China ready for Asian Cup after friendly with Jordan

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Europe

01:12

Team China have their final warm-up match with Jordan later on Friday in Doha before making the trip to the United Arab Emirates on Saturday for the start of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

China are in Group C alongside the Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, and South Korea, while Jordan are in Group B with Australia, Syria and Palestine, and they'll face Australia in their opening game on January 6.

In China's last 1-2 friendly defeat against Iraq, forward Wu Lei injured his left foot but has returned to training in the past two days and will be available for selection when the tournament starts on January 5.

Jordan lost to Kyrgyzstan 1-0 just a week ago. And for China, the friendly will be coach Marcello Lippi's last chance to make any final tactical adjustment before his team make the trip.

China's defender Zhang Chengdong said: "The Asian Cup is very close right now, so after our last match against Iraq, we are training harder and harder. The friendly against Jordan is very important to us, and especially to our coaches, but the players are also eager to win after losing to Iraq. A victory is essential for us to regain our confidence."