Marcello Lippi says China's World Cup dream still alive despite failing to beat Qatar
Goalless drew with Qatar to remain bottom of group A without a win in their first five games on the road to Russia 2018
Marcello Lippi said China’s hopes of reaching the next World Cup aren’t “dead yet” after they were unlucky not to snatch all the points in his first game in charge.
China drew 0-0 with Qatar to remain bottom of group A, but Lippi took heart from a bright performance when the hosts twice hit the woodwork in Kunming.
Lippi’s China now have five games to rise up the six-team table, where only the top two win automatic spots at Russia 2018 and the third-placed side goes into a play-off series.
“We knew before this match that our hope of qualifying to the World Cup in Russia was a very small one and it will be even more difficult after this game,” said Lippi.
Watch: China v Qatar highlights
“After today’s match, I want to tell my players that they are not inferior to their opponents. We were able to play good football and proved that we were better than Qatar.