China face pivotal World Cup qualifiers showdown with Saudi Arabia

As the World Cup Asian Qualifiers start to heat up, China find themselves in a must-win situation against Saudi Arabia in Riyadh.  

Both teams are currently tied on six points in Group C, making a victory crucial for qualification. During the last international break in November, China secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Bahrain but then lost 3-1 to runaway leaders Japan. With the group tightly contested, where four teams share six points, China are at the bottom and urgently need to secure wins to stand any chance of just a second World Cup appearance.

Saudi Arabia are also looking to turn their fortunes around against China at home. Under the guidance of returning coach Herve Renard, who famously led the team to an upset victory over eventual champions Argentina at the last World Cup, the Green Falcons have been on somewhat of a rocky streak. Following Roberto Mancini's departure last October, Renard's tenure began with a goalless draw against Australia and a surprising 2-0 loss to Indonesia.

China's previous encounter with Saudi Arabia ended in disappointment in September, when they lost 2-1 at home despite having an extra player for most of the match. During the pre-match press conference, China coach Branko Ivankovic thought both teams have come a long way, while veteran goalkeeper and captain Wang Dalei had been full of praise for the young players that have come into the squad.

"In just one year, you can see a marked difference. Many players have recently spoken about the importance of teamwork, and that's reflective of our collective feelings," said Wang.  

"The coach instills a passion within us, fostering an environment where we support one another. This collaborative spirit enhances our teamwork. Regarding the young players, since I joined the national team, there hasn't been such a surge of new talent. The arrival of so many young players and fresh blood has been a great change brought about by the coach, and I truly believe we have a very strong team right now."

Ivankovic added, "We know there have been some changes in Saudi Arabia, and it's clear to us that they have integrated both fresh talent and experienced players into their squad. And the same applies to our team, as we have welcomed 15 new players to the national setup since the training camp."

"This awareness prevents us from underestimating Saudi Arabia. On the contrary, we recognize that they are guided by a very experienced coach who has his own philosophies. We do not anticipate any fundamental shifts in his football approach. The players he has selected are those who can effectively execute his tactics on the pitch."