20 | Thursday, June 17, 2021 EDITION | DAILY SPORTS

soccer

Fans roar Team China on to victory during Tuesday’s World Cup Wu Lei celebrates scoring from the penalty spot to help Team China Team China head coach issues instructions to his players qualifier against Syria in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. REUTERS to a 3-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Syria on Tuesday. AFP during Tuesday’s triumph over Syria. rEUTERS China keeps World Cup dream alive Victory over Syria buoys fans, but tougher tests await in final phase of Asian zone qualifying

By Shi Futian [email protected]

Team China’s surprising victory I truly am very over Syria on Tuesday delivered satisfied with my another dose of feel-good factor for the fans. Booking a ticket to next players’ performance year’s World Cup finals, however, today, and now I want remains a mammoth task for Li Tie’s men. to show my respect to Spearheaded by star striker Wu . I really Lei, a 3-1 triumph over Syria in Shar- jah, United Arab Emirates, secured want to thank him for Team China a spot in the final round his years of help to of Asian zone qualifiers. With the eight group winners and me and the squad.” four best second-place finishers pro- Li Tie, Team China head coach gressing, Syria had already sealed its on his Italian predecessor spot before Tuesday’s clash as Group A’s top team. China finished three points back in second place thanks in the second division. to an encouraging run of four The former Port for- straight victories since May 30. ward also faced struggles off the “This was not an easy match. I’m pitch in Spain when he and his wife very satisfied with the strong fight- tested positive for COVID-19 in ing spirit and persistence that our March 2020. players showed on the pitch. We Pandemic-related travel restric- controlled most of the match and tions meant Wu missed all Team created many chances, although I’d China’s training camps in 2020, be happier with a 2-0,” head coach adding to concerns that he could Li told the post-match media struggle to gel with Li’s squad when conference. he finally did return. “We still don’t have many oppor- Tuesday’s performance, however, tunities to play more matches. I emphatically proved the doubters hope we can arrange more quality wrong. friendlies with stronger teams to “All the players in the national prepare for the coming qualifiers. team are the best Chinese players. The team can only grow by partici- No matter who we play against, no pating in high-quality matches and matter if we have home advantage playing against stronger rivals in the China’s Zhang Yuning celebrates scoring his team’s third goal with captain to wrap up a 3-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Syria or not, and no matter how tough the final round of the Asian qualifiers.” in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates on Tuesday. The win secured China a spot in the final phase of Asian zone qualifying. REUTERS situation is, we need to finish the Kicking off in September, the final match the best way we can. We are a phase will feature 12 teams: Syria, team, not a collection of individu- Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Japan, fielder took the reins in early 2020, UAE’s searing temperatures, as well resigned from his second spell at the Wu proves key als,” Wu said after the victory over United Arab Emirates, South Korea, just before the COVID-19 pandemic as pandemic-related logistical helm following a 2-1 qualifying China’s naturalized players have the Philippines. China, Oman, Iraq, , and took hold and disrupted his early issues, to win all three games in defeat to Syria in 2019. been recruited to raise the quality of Head coach Li reckons Wu’s time . Group E winner Qatar plans for the job. Sharjah, beating the Philippines 2-0 Li had worked with Lippi as an the squad, however the foreign- in Europe has made him a better was assured of its spot at the 2022 With the international schedule and the Maldives 5-0 before stun- assistant coach, and acknowledged born contingent were on this occa- player. World Cup finals as host. wiped out by the pandemic, Li was ning Syria. the Italian’s influence and input aft- sion upstaged by homegrown stars “Wu’s progress and growth since According to Xinhua, the Asian limited to training camps and “I’m very touched and I think we er Tuesday’s triumph. — most notably Wu. moving to Spain is very obvious. Yet Football Confederation (AFC) will friendlies against domestic club should give our wholehearted sup- “I truly am very satisfied with my Wu netted eight times in the still he finds himself under attack stage the draw for the final phase of teams. port to Li Tie,” said former Chinese players’ performance today, and eight-game Group A campaign. Five from some fans and media. Will qualification on July 1, with the 12 Last month’s 7-0 victory over international in a recent now I want to show my respect to of those goals, as well as two assists, they be happy if Wu quits and teams separated into six pots. While Guam in front of 30,000 spectators online interview. “Li Tie took over Marcello Lippi. I really want to came in the team’s recent four- returns to the Chinese Super Japan and Iran are in the first pot as in , province was his the Chinese squad at a very difficult thank him for his years of help to me match win streak as Wu proved piv- League?” Li said on Tuesday. the top seeds, China joins the UAE first official match in charge. Li had time. Even the most renowned and the squad,” said Li. otal both as a link man and scorer. “We need to encourage players in the fourth pot — illustrating the been looking forward to more international coaches could proba- “This trip to West Asia has been The 29-year-old had rejoined like Wu. It’s very tough for them to difficult task that awaits Li’s men. matches with the home fans in bly not have helped us. Chinese soc- very tough for our staff. We never Team China in May, with many forge a career in a foreign coun- There’s no doubt, though, that attendance until COVID-19 cases in cer’s future should depend on our experienced anything (sudden relo- question marks hanging over his try… If we have 20 players who play Team China’s performances have the Syria and Maldives squads saw own efforts.” cation of matches) like this before. ability following a tough last year in in the major European leagues, improved under Li. The former Chi- the games moved to Sharjah. Li’s predecessor was Italian World For the team, this was truly a huge Spain when he was mostly con- what’s there left for us to worry na international and Everton mid- However, China overcame the Cup winner Marcello Lippi, who test. But we all made it through.” signed to the bench with Espanyol about?”

Rocky road to Qatar: China’s WC qualifying timeline

1. May 24, 2019 spell in charge with a friendly match climb after the Syria defeat. gent is comprised of former England 11. May 31, 2021 against the Philippines in , youth international Li Ke, England-born Team China loses home advantage province. London-born Li 7. Jan 2, 2020 defender Jiang Guangtai (aka Tyias when the remaining World Cup qualifiers Ke (aka Nico Yennaris) becomes the Former China international and Ever- Browning) and Brazil-born forwards Ai are relocated from Suzhou to Sharjah in first ever naturalized player to play for ton midfielder Li Tie is installed as Mar- Kesen, Alan and Fei Nanduo (aka Fernan- the United Arab Emirates. The switch is the Chinese national team, playing a cello Lippi’s replacement. However, dinho, who subsequently fails to make necessitated by COVID-19 cases in the key role in a 2-0 victory. shortly after taking the reins, the COVID- his Team China debut due to injury). Maldives and Syria squads, who, as a 19 pandemic disrupts the new coach’s result, are denied entry to China. 3. Sept 10, 2019 plans and forces the postponement of 10. May 30, 2021 Team China opens its 2022 World Cup the remaining qualifiers. 12. June 15, 2021 Asian qualification campaign with a 5-0 A 2-1 defeat to Syria in Dubai delivers away triumph over the Maldives. Brazil- another hammer blow to China’s hopes 8. March 21, 2020 Marcello Lippi (pictured) is reappoint- born naturalized forward Ai Kesen (aka of reaching the finals in Qatar. Marcello Chinese striker Wu Lei tests positive ed as Team China’s head coach, tasked ) caps his China debut with two Lippi curtly announces his departure as for COVID-19 in Spain, where he plays his with leading the squad to victories in the goals. head coach for a second time at a brief club soccer for Espanyol. Wu, the only 2022 World Cup Asian qualifiers. The post-match news conference. Chinese international to be infected by Italian World Cup winner first took 4. Oct 15, 2019 the coronavirus, recovers to remain a charge of Team China in 2016, before Team China’s World Cup qualification 6. Nov 15, 2019 core player for his country. leaving the role in January 2019 when his hopes take a hit in a goalless draw away The Chinese Football Association Team China resumes its World Cup contract expired following a 3-0 defeat to to the Philippines, dropping Marcello Lip- accepts Marcello Lippi’s resignation. 9. May 10, 2021 qualification campaign with a 7-0 victory Against the odds, Team China reaches Iran in the AFC Asian Cup. pi’s men to second place in Group A With only the eight group winners and Head coach Li Tie calls up five natural- over Guam in front of 30,000 spectators the final round of 2022 World Cup Asian behind Syria. four best second-place finishers advanc- ized players and Spain-based Wu Lei to in Suzhou, Jiangsu province. Brazil-born zone qualification thanks to a 3-1 victory 2. June 7, 2019 ing to the final round of Asian zone quali- his squad for the four remaining World naturalized star Alan nets twice in his over Syria in Sharjah. Marcello Lippi kicks off his second 5. Nov 14, 2019 fication, China is left with a mountain to Cup qualifiers. The naturalized contin- Team China debut. — Shi Futian