Off the wire
• EU presents 500-mln-euro package to support farmers  • Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, Sept. 7  • Arab schools in Israel strike over slashing of Christian schools' budgets  • North China reports clear sky thanks to V-Day parade  • Teacher's gender has no influence on students' educational success: Study  • Imperial College London delegation to attend World Economic Forum in China  • EU-funded researchers develop green organic fertilizer from animal bones  • Britain's maritime sector aims to rule the ocean waves  • Trial operation of driverless bus successful in China  • China executes two sexual criminals  
You are here: 　 Home

China aims for full three points at World Cup qualifier

Xinhua, September 7, 2015 Adjust font size:

China has no other choice but to win three points against the winless Maldives at a 2018 World Cup Asian qualifier on Tuesday.

"The most important thing is to get three points. We need more passion, more precise (shots) and efficiency in front of goal than last match," said Frenchman Alain Perrin, China's head coach.

Four days ago, China was held to a fruitless draw by the Hong Kong team after squandering a dozen of chances. That demoted China to third place of Group C after two matches including an opening 6-0 victory in Bhutan. However, only the eight group winners and four best second placed teams will advance to Round Three in Asian zone qualifiers.

"We need to stick to the same tactics against Hong Kong. In that match, we had 40 shots, including eight on target, and created many chances. We have to be more precise this time," said Perrin.

The pressure is on Alain Perrin's side although Team Dragon can expect strong home support with the venue changed from Male to Shenyang of China after the local pitch conditions of the Maldives failed to meet the standards.

The Maldives was regarded as an underdog of the group. It lost to group leader Hong Kong and second-placed Qatar in its last two matches.

"However, it will be difficult to get the points. As we see, Qatar, the strong team of the group, still needed a 99th minute goal to seal the 1-0 victory against the Maldives. We need more patience to win," said Perrin.

If China hopes to reach the Russia 2018 World Cup, it must seize the chance to collect the maximum points on Tuesday night, while the other game in the group sees Qatar and Hong Kong battle for the top place. Endi