Club glory lifts China for Asian Cup tests
The Chinese team face Indonesia and Saudi Arabia hoping to ride a wave of confidence from Guangzhou's AFC Champions League win
China will hope to ride a wave of optimism after Guangzhou Evergrande's breakthrough AFC Champions League win as they head into two make-or-break Asian Cup qualifiers.
Chinese soccer received a long-awaited boost when Marcello Lippi's expensively assembled side edged FC Seoul to the country's first Asian title in 23 years.
Now the often-criticised national team will take centre stage at Xian's Shanxi Stadium as they face Indonesia on Friday and then Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
We're eager to qualify for the 2015 Asian Cup. It's important for our national pride and Chinese football
China's campaign for Australia 2015 has not gone to plan so far with a loss in Saudi Arabia, a fortunate home win over Iraq and a disappointing 1-1 away draw with Indonesia.
The results have left them second in group C, five points behind the Saudis and just one in front of Iraq, with their quest to reach an 11th straight Asian Cup in danger.
Caretaker coach Fu Bo, who replaced sacked former boss Jose Antonio Camacho, remains in charge despite the draw in Jakarta in October.
But China cannot afford another slip-up against the last-placed Indonesians if they hope to finish in one of the group's two automatic qualifying spots.
Former Celtic and Charlton Athletic midfielder Zheng Zhi, 33, who skippers Guangzhou and China, said national duty was different to playing for his club.