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Zhang Xizhe: It's China's best chance to qualify for the World Cup
CGTN
Zhang Xizhe of China is about to take a corner kick in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification game against Guam in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, May 30, 2021. /CFP

Zhang Xizhe of China is about to take a corner kick in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification game against Guam in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, May 30, 2021. /CFP

The Chinese men's national football team are currently training in Doha, Qatar to prepare for the coming 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification game against Australia. 

Midfielder Zhang Xizhe told Xinhua News Agency that this is their "best chance" to go for World Cup qualification and the players are more confident than they were five years ago. "It's the best chance for the players of my generation. We have already come so far so we will give our best efforts in every game. All of us will do so to make the World Cup," he said.

China last reached this stage of World Cup qualification in 2016. But before that, the team had a 16-year-long absence from such competitions. Zhang noted that many players in the team five years ago had never played in games like that and so lacked confidence on the field. That affected their performance and was partly why China failed to make it to the World Cup in Russia.

"Now about half of the players took part in the tournament last time. They know what it was like and they are more confident," Zhang told Xinhua.

Zhang Xizhe (#10) of China controls the ball in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification game against Guam in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, May 30, 2021. /CFP

Zhang Xizhe (#10) of China controls the ball in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification game against Guam in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, May 30, 2021. /CFP

Zhang revealed that manager Li Tie kept stressing that all of the opponents at this stage are tougher than Syria, which was China's major rival in the last stage of the tournament. That's why Li kept asking players to pick up the pace during practice so they could adapt to fast games as early as possible.

China's first opponent, Australia, announced their 27-player roster on Saturday – 26 of them play in overseas leagues, including Aaron Mooy of the Shanghai Port in the Chinese Super League.

"My team played Shanghai Port several times last year so I know Mooy quite well. I think he will tell his teammates how we play, like I do," Zhang told Xinhua.

It has been three days since the Chinese national team arrived at Doha and they have already got over the jet lag. Zhang praised the training ground, which is in the Qatar University, saying it was "as flat as a carpet." 

China will meet Australia at Khalifa International Stadium on September 2.

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