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(191114) -- BEIJING, Nov. 13, 2019 -- Marcello Lippi, head coach of China s football team, reacts during a press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz before the group A match between China and Syria of the FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 13, 2019. ) XINHUA PHOTOS OF THE DAY PanxYulong

Head coach Marcello Lippi of Chinese national men s football team takes part in a training session for the AFC Asian Cup quarterfinal match against Iran during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 22 January 2019. For China, there has been a renewed optimism about what s yet to come at the Asian Cup after they won their first knockout game in a major tournament in 15 years, yet the much-anticipated quarter-final clash with three-time champions Iran will be their stiffest test. The 2-1 victory over a limited Thailand was a welcome respite for Marcello Lippi s side after their 2-0 reverse at the hands of South Korea, but there was little convincing about it beyond the viable option Xiao Zhi offers as plan B for Chinese attack. China were pinned back by the Thais and struggled to create chances in the first half of their game and it was not the first time China have underwhelmed before the break. Thailand, like Kyrgyzstan in the group opener, ought to have been out of sight, and China know they cannot expect Iran, Asia s top-ranked team to be as profligate when opportunities present themselves. It is to Lippi s credit that the issue has not been costlier so far, but the 70-year-old sent a warning to his players, saying they must stay fully focused from the first minute of each game. Chinese players have to improve psychologically. Sometimes they need to be much more focused and concentrated and pay more attention during the game, the Italian World Cup-winning coach observed. It s a psychological thing. And it s very important to have the same intensity and the same determination from the beginning of the game, he added. Marcello Lippi calls on China to overcome slow starts ahead of Iran showdown 20190122_71105