Ahmad Al Salih’s late strike dealt a body blow to China’s faltering quest to reach a second World Cup on Tuesday, as blockaded Qatar kept their slimmest of hopes alive with a shock 3-2 victory over South Korea. Marcello Lippi’s China were within reach of only their second win in Group A when Al Salih … Read more
Ahmad Al Salih’s late strike dealt a body blow to China’s faltering quest to reach a second World Cup on Tuesday, as Japan’s serene progress received a jolt from Iraq. Marcello Lippi’s China were within reach of only their second win in Group A when Al Salih curled home a free kick in injury time … Read more
Ahmad Al Salih’s injury-time free kick dealt China’s already faint World Cup hopes another body blow as they were held 2-2 by Syria on Tuesday. China had fought back from Syria’s first-half penalty to lead 2-1 before the bearded Al Salih skilfully converted from the edge of the ‘D’ in the third added minute. Marcello … Read more
Brazilian forward Hulk scored one goal and set up another as Shanghai SIPG won a megabucks all-Chinese clash 2-1 against Jiangsu Suning in the AFC Champions League’s last 16 on Wednesday. Hulk made his muscular presence felt with a bustling performance which terrorised the Jiangsu defence and put Andre Villas-Boas’s SIPG in the driving seat … Read more
The Chinese football association (CFA) has dismissed suggestions it is keen to replace national team coach Marcello Lippi with Germany boss Joachim Low. Low signed a new deal with Germany until after the 2020 World Cup back in October last year, but reports from Spain suggested China are ready to attempt to convince the 57-year-old … Read more
The setting is that of defensive masters against attacking maestros. For the second successive occasion, Juventus defensive masters come up against one of Europe’s attacking sides, AS Monaco, Wednesday evening. The Italian side have conceded goals just twice in 10 games in this season’s European campaign. It is to be found out if Juventus will … Read more
FIFA has fined the Albanian soccer federation 100,000 Swiss francs ($100,500) for improper conduct by fans who forced a World Cup qualifying match in Italy to be stopped. Play was delayed for nine minutes in Palermo last month when Albania fans threw flares on the field despite warnings earlier in the game. Albania’s fine announced … Read more
Mehdi Taremi’s second-half strike condemned China to a 1-0 defeat to Iran on Tuesday in a major blow to their hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup. Marcello Lippi’s team raised Chinese hopes by upsetting South Korea last week, but they were unable to overturn Iran’s flawless home record in Group A. While Iran, … Read more
China’s fledgling revival under Marcello Lippi will be tested by Asia’s top team Iran in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday, while Australia need to return to winning ways when they play UAE. China shocked South Korea 1-0 last week for their first win of Asia’s final qualifying groups, and Lippi says there is much more … Read more
Chinese fans and state-run media heaped praise on coach Marcello Lippi on Friday after a stunning win over South Korea kept their World Cup qualifying campaign alive. “Thanks Lippi,” gushed state broadcaster CCTV, after China climbed off the bottom of Group A following Thursday’s 1-0 victory in Changsha. Lippi, who led Italy to the 2006 … Read more
Marcello Lippi’s China stunned South Korea 1-0 in a politically charged World Cup qualifier on Thursday to give themselves a glimmer of hope of reaching next year’s tournament in Russia. Yu Dabao stooped unmarked to head in the game’s only goal on 34 minutes, prompting rapturous celebrations as China registered their first win in the … Read more
Yu Dabao struck in the first half as Marcello Lippi’s China stunned South Korea 1-0 to keep their slim World Cup hopes alive on Thursday. The Beijing Guoan forward’s header ensured China’s first win of in the final qualifying group — and only their second victory over the Koreans in 32 attempts. The victory sent … Read more
Chinese authorities have stepped up security for Thursday’s tense World Cup qualifier against South Korea, whose fans will receive a police escort after protests over Seoul’s decision to deploy a controversial missile defence system. The clash between the neighbouring countries is the most anticipated of Thursday’s Asian games, which also include Australia’s trip to face … Read more
Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande have announced plans to field a Chinese-only squad by 2020, official media said on Tuesday, in a surprise turnaround after years of success based on big-money foreign signings. Evergrande have won the Chinese Super League for the last six season, plus the AFC Champions League in 2013 and 2015, with the … Read more
China’s Wu Xi (left) duels for the ball with Qatari players during their 2018 World Cup qualifier in Kunming yesterday. — Xinhua Hosts China failed to take the opportunities that came their way as they drew 0-0 with Qatar to stay rooted at the bottom of Group A after their FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 … Read more
Marcello Lippi, head coach of China’s national soccer team, reacts during the press conference for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Zone Qualifiers against Qatar at Tuodong Sports Stadium in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, on Nov. 14, 2016. (Xinhua/Lin Yiguang) Marcello Lippi starts mission almost-impossible today as he bids to take China … Read more
Italian master-coach Marcello Lippi is facing one of his toughest assignments as he attempts what some fans think is impossible: putting under-achievers China on the path to greatness. Starting with Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Qatar, the silver-haired Lippi will set out to justify his hefty salary as China’s new boss and win over a … Read more
Marcello Lippi will earn almost $5 million a year as China coach but will pocket far more through a tie-in with a football academy, state media said Sunday. Lippi’s annual salary “should be 4.5 million euros ($4.9 million)” said state broadcaster CCTV on an official social media account. Lippi coached Evergrande to great heights, leading … Read more