Sports
16:37, 13-Dec-2018
China’s football captain optimistic for 2019 AFC Asian Cup
Updated
16:04, 16-Dec-2018
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China's men's national football team has been preparing for the Asian Cup since the start of the month in the city of Haikou in Hainan Province. The tournament will begin in the UAE on January 5.
After ten days of training and a one day break, the national team held a session that was open to the media on Wednesday. All the players attended the training except three who are injured. China has been focusing on the physical side during the past few days, and captain Zheng Zhi shared his hopes for what is likely his last go at the continental competition.
Chinese national football team players gear up for 2019 AFC Asian Cup in their preparatory camp in Haikou in Hainan Province in China. /VCG Photo
Chinese national football team players gear up for 2019 AFC Asian Cup in their preparatory camp in Haikou in Hainan Province in China. /VCG Photo
“This should be my last time to play in the Asian Cup so I hope we can have some good results that will give me more good memories at the end of my career,” said Zheng.
China will open their tournament against Kyrgyzstan on January 7 before taking on the Philippines four days later. The PRC side will take on a mighty South Korea in their third and final group league match on January 16.
The 2019 AFC Asian Cup will be the 17th edition of the continental quadrennial tournament, which is organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the governing body of football in Asia.
The final match of the tournament is scheduled for February 1.