China coach hints rotation for 2nd group match at Women's Asian Cup

China head coach Ante Milicic said Thursday that he plans to make changes for his team's second group match at the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup.

China beat Bangladesh 2-0 in its Group B opener Tuesday and will face Uzbekistan at Western Sydney Stadium on Friday.

Jin Kun (L) of China shoots during the Group B match of Women's Asian Cup between China and Bangladesh at Western Sydney Stadium in Sydney, Australia, March 3, 2026. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)

Milicic said the first game is often the toughest in a tournament and he expects his players to show more composure next time.

"It's tournament football. There is the crowd in the stadium and people are watching back home. They had that strong desire to do well, [but it] sometimes makes it more difficult. They played with pressure on them," the 51-year-old Australian said at a news conference.

"So what's going to help us for now is the second game. And there should be a lot more calm."

The tournament is Milicic's first major competition as China's head coach since his appointment in May 2024.

He said rotation is necessary in the group stage, where teams play every three days, to keep legs fresh and strengthen cohesion.

"What's important in the group stage is when you have 26 players who deserve to play, you give minutes to them as much as possible. What I don't want to label is stronger 11 or preferred ones. They deserve to play for the national team no matter of their age," he said.

"Of course we will make changes. For example, we've got the three girls who came from Europe. We've given them more time to adjust to Australia's weather and to get over the jet lag. So there's a chance that they could be involved in the game tomorrow at some stage. But also I'm really pleased that we have all 26 players fit and available for selection."

The three players are forwards Wu Chengshu and Wang Yanwen from French club Dijon, and right back Li Mengwen from Scotland's Rangers.

Left back Chen Qiaozhu said the team is ready for the next match and is targeting a win.

"This is my first time playing in the Asian Cup, and I feel very happy and excited. I have full energy, and want to show the best of myself and also the tactics of the coach," she said.

Uzbekistan head coach Kotryna Kulbyte said her team is familiar with China after the sides met twice in the past two editions of the Yongchuan International Tournament in southwest China's Chongqing municipality.

"We are expecting to have a game not less tough than the first one. There's no easy thing here," she said.

"But we will be more free on the pitch, more brave. We want to keep the ball more. We want to attack more as well. So we have our targets and I hope that we can reach them."

The 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup is being held across Sydney, Perth and the Gold Coast from March 1-21. Twelve teams are split into three groups, with the top two in each group and the two best third-place teams advancing to the quarterfinals.