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Andrew Mullen

Marcello Lippi insists that he would not have failed with China, even if the Italian World Cup-winning coach is unable to rescue their qualification campaign for Russia 2018, which continues on Tuesday against Syria in Malaysia.
Chasing only a second-ever Word Cup finals appearance and first since 2002, China find themselves second from bottom in the five-team group A with only one win to show for their efforts in seven games.
Former Guangzhou Evergrande coach Lippi was appointed in October last year and has started to turn around China’s fortunes, highlighted by March’s home win over South Korea.
But Lippi was handed an almost impossible task of guiding China to Russia after they lost three of their first four games, including a 1-0 home defeat by Syria.
“Since I took over the job in last October, our plan has been to help the team improve. They only had one point in the first four games. They were very far from the World Cup, but we didn’t give up,” said Lippi.

“Some people might think if I can’t take this team to the World Cup, I will be a failure, but I don’t agree with that. If we can’t qualify, at least I hope to see my team make progress. If I see that, then my work gets paid back.”
China must hope group leaders Iran beat third-placed Uzbekistan on Monday in Tehran, a result which would see Carlos Queiroz’s unbeaten side qualify, before claiming revenge over Syria for October’s 1-0 home defeat.
Seeds of growth as China claim historic win over South Korea, but too little too late for World Cup chances
That would lift China to the same number of points as fourth-place Syria, but crucially four points behind Uzbekistan, with third place earning a place in the play-offs.
China then entertain Uzbekistan in August before Lippi’s side round off their campaign in Doha against Qatar in September, while the Central Asians entertain South Korea.
Watch: China 0-1 Syria highlights


“If we want to keep our hopes alive it depends on whether we can win three successive games,” added Lippi.
“We have to pray our opponent gets zero wins. The situation is very difficult for us, but we will try to win three games in a row at all costs.”
‘Room for improvement’ for China but time running out on World Cup chances after Iran defeat
China beat the Philippines 8-1 in a friendly last week, but Syria will pose a new threat entirely having held their own in group A, beating Uzbekistan before sharing a 1-1 friendly draw with Japan last week.
And China’s problems are further complicated with the absences of influential captain Zheng Zhi, defender Mei Fang, as well as forwards Yu Dabao and Cao Yunding, due to injury.
Watch: China 8-1 Philippines highlights


“Since I took on this job our team has only scored once in three games and they also only conceded one goal. I hope we will be lucky enough to win the next three games,” added Lippi.
“We’ve still got many competitive players and all of them are eager to play this game.”
Iran blow hole in China’s World Cup bid
Elsewhere in group A, South Korea will look to edge closer towards a ninth successive World Cup with a win in Qatar.
The Taeguk Warriors sit in second, four points behind Iran and one above Uzbekistan, but a series of indifferent performances has raised the possibility of missing out on the World Cup for the first time since 1982.
Watch: China 1-0 South Korea highlights


Against Qatar, defeat would see the team’s German coach Uli Stielike come under increasing pressure.
A 0-0 draw with Iraq in a friendly last week resulted in harsh criticism of South Korea, who had no shots on target.
“The result was not good against Iraq, but the atmosphere in the team is fine,” said Son Heung-min, who scored 21 goals in the English Premier League season with Tottenham Hotspur.
“I also did not play well against Iraq, but we are preparing well for Qatar and we all know how important it is.”
Additional reporting by Associated Press


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2018 Fifa World Cup Asian qualifying

I won’t have failed if China don’t qualify for World Cup, says coach Marcello Lippi

China coach Marcello Lippi. Photo: Xinhua

China's Huang Bowen (R) kicks the ball as he is challenged by Misagh Bahadoran of the Philippines during their football friendly in Guangzhou, in China's southern Guangdong province on June 7, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / STR / CHINA OUT

Coach Marcello Lippi calls for China to defend nation’s honour in key World Cup qualifier

Security guards outside He Long Stadium. Photo: AFP

People walk through barriers set up on the road outside the Helong stadium, the venue for a World Cup football qualifying match between China and South Korea, in Changsha, in China's central Hunan province on March 22, 2017. Chinese authorities have stepped up security for the March 23 tense World Cup football qualifier against South Korea, whose fans will receive a police escort after protests over Seoul's decision to deploy a controversial missile defence system. / AFP PHOTO / GREG BAKER

South Korea's players take part in a training session for the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier against China in Changsha, central China's Hunan province on March 20, 2017. The match will be held on March 23. / AFP PHOTO / STR

(170318) -- CHANGSHA, March 18, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Players of China warm up during the team's training session for the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier against South Korea in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, on March 18, 2017. The match will be held in Changsha next Thursday. (Xinhua/Li Ga)(wll)

(170318) -- CHANGSHA, March 18, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Marcello Lippi(R), head coach of Chinese national team, talks with his assitant Maddaloni Massimiliano during the team's training session for the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier against South Korea in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, on March 18, 2017. The match will be held in Changsha next Thursday. (Xinhua/Li Ga)(wll)

Marcello Lippi fails to create miracle as China are held 0-0 by Qatar to leave World Cup hopes in tatters

China’s Mei Fang challenges Qatar goalkeeper Saad Al-Sheeb. Photo: Reuters

Football Soccer - China v Qatar - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - Kunming, China - 15/11/16. Jiang Zhipeng of China and Mohamed Musa of Qatar in action. REUTERS/Stringer ATTENTION EDITORS- THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. CHINA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN CHINA.

Football Soccer - China v Qatar - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - Kunming, China - 15/11/16. China's coach Marcello Lippi reacts. REUTERS/Stringer ATTENTION EDITORS- THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. CHINA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN CHINA.

Football Soccer - China v Qatar - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - Kunming, China - 15/11/16. Zheng Zhi of China and Hassan Al Haidos of Qatar in action. REUTERS/Stringer ATTENTION EDITORS- THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. CHINA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN CHINA.

Marcello Lippi is good for Asian football, says Iran coach Carlos Queiroz as the two prepare to lock horns

China head coach Marcello Lippi remains unbeaten as national team manager after overseeing a win over South Korea. Photo: AP

Football Soccer - Qatar v Iran - 2018 World Cup Qualifiers - Doha, Qatar - 23/3/17 - Iran's head coach Carlos Queiroz celebrates his team's victory. REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari

epa05866253 China's coach Marcello Lippi reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification soccer match between China and South Korea at Helong Stadium in Changsha, China, 23 March 2017. EPA/STR **CHINA OUT**

epa04554861 Iranian coach Carlos Queiroz gestures to his players, during the Group C Asian Cup match between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Bahrain at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, January 11, 2015. EPA/JOE CASTRO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

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Group A campaign for Russia 2018 continues against Syria in Malaysia on Tuesday
