China face Iraq on Monday in one of their final two warm-up matches before football's Asian Cup begins on January 5. After the two friendlies, China's coach Marcelo Lippi will submit his final 23-man squad.
For the Group stage, China are in group C with the Philippines, Kyrgyzstan and powerhouses South Korea. If China qualify for the Round of 16, they will probably meet Iraq, who are grouped with Iran, Vietnam and Yemen.
Players of China's national football team attend a training session as they prepare for the AFC Asian cup 2019 in Qatar's capital Doha, December 21, 2018. /VCG Photo
For China's side, Guangzhou Evergrande's defender Li Xuepeng was sent home after having a heavy injury in his left heel tendon in training on Sunday. The recovery will likely take Li about a half year.
Two players are set to be released by the time Lippi hands in his final selection on Wednesday and all four under-23 players called up to the side are still hopeful of remaining in the UAE.
They are Beijing Guoan forward Wei Shihao and goalkeeping colleague Guo Quanbo, Shandong Luneng's midfielder Liu Yang and Tianjin Quanjian's center-back Liu Yiming.
Liu Yiming in training in Haikou, China's Hainan Province, December 12, 2018. /VCG Photo
"We will try our best to bring honor to our country. Each of us knows that preparation work is quite important and we will do our own job well. We are still making adjustments because the ball is lighter than before and we're still getting used to the weather conditions here,” said Liu Yiming.