China seek perfection in do-or-die World Cup qualifier clash against Indonesia
Only victory will do for a Chinese side in danger of failing to qualify for global tournament for only second time in their history
China will fight to stay alive in the hunt for a World Cup spot with hopes of a “perfect performance” when they face Indonesia in a crucial qualifier on Thursday, coach Branko Ivankovic said.
China stand on the brink of elimination from World Cup qualification – a defeat at Indonesia’s sold-out, 76,000-seater Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Thursday would end any chance of the Chinese team reaching the tournament for only the second time in their history.
“Tomorrow will be a massive game for us. I hope all the team will have a perfect performance,” Ivankovic told reporters ahead of the clash in Jakarta.
“We are well aware of the pressure playing in Indonesia’s home stadium, and we’ve been preparing the players to turn that pressure into motivation.
“Indonesia has strengthened its squad with naturalised players, making this a difficult match for us. We need to stay focused and avoid any distractions.”
In their previous qualifier, China lost to Saudi Arabia in Riyadh despite having reignited their World Cup hopes with wins against Indonesia and Bahrain.