KUALA LUMPUR: Marcello Lippi faces his biggest challenge as China coach, needing a win against South Korea to keep alive any hopes of qualifying for Russia 2018.

The clash between the neighbouring countries is the most anticipated of Thursday’s games, which also include Australia’s trip to face Iraq and Japan’s revenge mission against United Arab Emirates.

China have appeared at the World Cup just once in 2002 when South Korea co-hosted the quadrennial event and reached the semi-finals and are in last place in Group ‘A’ with just two points from the five games in the third round of Asian qualifying.

Lippi guided Italy to the World Cup title in 2006 and took on the China post last October, facing the improbable task of qualifying. He needs goals from a team that has failed to score in all four games since losing 3-2 to South Korea in Seoul in September.

“Tomorrow’s game is the most important and our mentality is crucial,” Lippi, who led Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, said of the match in Changsha’s Helong Stadium. “We are working hard to compete with South Korea.

“If we want to keep our dream of qualifying for the next year’s World Cup alive, we have to win three points tomorrow and my players and I both know that.”

A defeat for China would end already-slim hopes of finishing in the top two spots of the six-team group that offer automatic qualification for Russia.

China are eight points behind second-placed South Korea (10 points) and nine adrift of leaders Iran with a playoff spot available for the third-place finishers.

Iran travel to Doha to take on 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar (four points), who are in fifth place, with Carlos Queiroz’s side aiming to maintain their unbeaten run in the campaign.

Syria (five points), who are forced to play their home games in Malaysia due to the security situation in their country, will host a third-placed Uzbekistan side (nine points) poised to capitalise on any errors by the two teams above them.

Meanwhile in Group ‘B’, UAE host Japan looking to build on their shock 2-1 win over the four-time Asian champions in Saitama in September.

“All we’re thinking about is beating Japan again because that’s the key to qualifying for the World Cup,” said UAE midfielder and Asian player of the year Omar Abdulrahman, according to the FIFA website.

The Japanese are in second, level on 10 points with the Saudis, while Australia occupy third with the UAE in fourth, also on nine points.

Asian title-holders Australia play Iraq in Tehran looking to climb into the group’s top two places, while Saudi Arabia take on last-placed Thailand (one point).

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2017