“We’re not here for sightseeing. We will put everything into tomorrow’s game,” said China national soccer team head coach Branko Ivankovic.
On June 11 at 8 p.m., China will face South Korea in the final Group C match of the Asia-Pacific second qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup North America at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
China’s progression to the third round of qualifying depends on the outcome of the final match. China has two wins, two draws and one loss (8 points) in five matches in the second round of qualifying. China is second in the group behind 안전카지노사이트 South Korea.
China holds a three-point lead over third-place Thailand. China is also three goals ahead of Thailand on goal difference.
The problem is the schedule. China plays first-place South Korea in Group C, while Thailand faces last-place Singapore. Singapore is the underdog, with one draw and four losses in five games and 21 goals conceded.
“Korea is considered a strong team not only in Asia but also in the world,” Ivankovic said, “so we will focus as much as we can on what we can do.”
Ivankovic previously coached Oman to a 1-0 win over Japan during his tenure in charge. The match was not a friendly, but a qualifier for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“The win against Japan meant a lot to us,” Ivankovic recalls, “and it brought a lot of joy to the country.” Ivankovic went on to share the following words of determination.
“Three years ago, the victory against Japan was a result of fighting as a ‘one-man team’. Tomorrow will be the same. We will respond to Korea as a ‘one-man team’. Korea has a lot of world-class players, including Son Heung-min, but a ‘one-man team’ can do it. We’ll make it a surprise day.”