China's coach, Ante Milicic, has told his players to stay "calm and confident" for their Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal match against Taiwan. The game is set for Saturday and has political undertones.
China aims for its 10th continental title. However, they are cautious of Taiwan, who has improved throughout the tournament.
The Match and Political Tensions
Taiwan lost 2-0 to Japan in the group stage but played well. Milicic noted that Taiwan gave Japan a tough game and then won their next two matches. He believes if China sticks to its game plan, they can win.
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Start Your News DetoxBoth teams have received strong support in Australia. However, Taiwan's last game in Sydney against India sparked controversy. Former Taiwan coach Chen Kuei-jen was removed from the stadium for leading a "Taiwan Jiayu" (Go Taiwan) chant. Taiwan's foreign ministry protested this to the Asian Football Confederation, citing "unequal treatment."
Taiwan competes as "Chinese Taipei" in international sports. This is a political agreement with China, which claims Taiwan as its territory. The agreement allows Taiwan to participate in major competitions without acting as a sovereign nation.
Taiwan coach Prasobchoke Chokemor focused on the game itself. He mentioned his team's strong first half against Japan. He believes they can compete against top players if they stay focused and play as a team.
The winner of this match will not only advance to the semifinals but also move closer to qualifying for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. The top six teams in the tournament will secure their spots.
