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Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466
Branko Ivankovic, head coach of China, attends the press conferecne ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Football Confederation qualifier game against Saudi Arabia in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, September 9, 2024. /CFP
China will host Saudi Arabia in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifier game on Tuesday. Coach Branko Ivankovic said his team will do their best to bounce back from the 7-0 loss to Japan last week.
"After four days, all our players have recovered from the loss physically and mentally," Ivankovic said at a press conference on Monday. "We have to bottom out and restore our form as soon as possible. This group is very difficult, and we need to try our best to get better results tomorrow."
Saudi Arabia have been a traditional Asian powerhouse for decades and kept an advantageous record against China. The last time China beat Saudi Arabia was in an AFC Asian Cup group game in 2015 in Australia.
"Saudi Arabia have qualified for the World Cup multiple times. At the 2022 World Cup, they defeated Argentina in their group match," Ivankovic added. "Their head coach Roberto Mancini led Italy to win Euro 2020. He is a coach of champions. We need to have good performances on both ends, and a better defense is the fundamental thing."
Saudi Arabia were held 1-1 by Indonesia in their first game of the group and are desperate for a win as well.
The other two games of the group on Tuesday will happen between Bahrain and Japan, Australia and Indonesia. Bahrain upset Australia 1-0 in their first game and rank second in Group C behind Japan due to goal difference.