World Cup qualifiers: China need draw at South Korea, who must win to avoid losing seeding
- Chinese travel to Seoul, where the hosts have already qualified but must win to prevent Australia displacing them as one of the seeds
China are unlikely to get an easy ride when they meet South Korea in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday even though their neighbours have already advanced to the third round of Asian qualifying.
After drawing with Thailand on Thursday, the Chinese need at least a draw in their final Group C match in Seoul to be certain of remaining on track for an appearance in the finals for the first time since 2002.
A draw or defeat for South Korea, however, would allow Australia to move above them in the Fifa rankings and leave the Taeguk Warriors unseeded in the draw for the three third-round groups.
“Our remaining goal is to be one of the top seeds,” caretaker coach Kim Do-hoon told the Yonhap news agency at Incheon airport on Friday.
“And regardless of the quality of our opponents, the key is for us to play our football. I think that’s the direction we have to take. The focus will be on playing the way we want to play.”
