Libbi to try out new players for China vs Serbia friendly

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China men's football team is getting ready to face Serbia in a friendly on Friday.

After coming up short in their recent bid to qualify for the World Cup, coach Marcello Lippi will try out some new players in two upcoming friendly games with the PRC also hosting Colombia on Tuesday.

The squad is largely made up of veterans, except for Zhao Yuhao, who has been selected by the national team for the first time, and Zheng Zheng, who will also be getting his first cap since Lippi took charge.

Italian World Cup winning coach Lippi. /VCG Photo

The Italian World Cup winning coach holds an aggressive attitude on the upcoming match, as he wants the Chinese Football Association to look for stronger opponents and learn. He expressed hope that the team would showcase their abilities in Friday's match, and do not play a defensive game but score and win.

Serbia is also viewed as a powerful side.

Lippi has been given another opportunity ahead of the next set of Asian Cup qualifiers. This is mainly due to the team's solid performances in the closing fixtures of the third round of Asian qualifying as China come into the friendly on the back of three wins and a draw in their last four matches.