By sportswriters Dong Yixing and Xiao Shiyao

BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Less than a month after being appointed head coach of the Chinese men's national football team, Branko Ivankovic will make his debut in the dugout when China takes on Singapore in a pair of 2026 World Cup qualifiers, first away on Thursday and at home in Tianjin five days later.

Currently, China stands third in Group C of the second round of the Asian qualifiers with one victory and one defeat, trailing the group leader South Korea by three points and on par with Thailand but behind on goal difference. The top two teams from each of the nine groups will proceed to the next round.

Ivankovic, who replaced Aleksandar Jankovic after the Serbian failed to take the country beyond the group phase of the Asian Cup, is determined to secure back-to-back victories against Singapore.

"The goal is definitely to take six points, but the process won't be easy," Ivankovic said through an interpreter during a one-week training camp in Shenzhen. "We are better than Singapore. We just need better patience, organization and concentration to win the matches."

After spending a week assessing players at the camp, Ivankovic arrived in Singapore on Monday with 26 players he handpicked. Three naturalized players - forwards Ai Kesen and Fei Nanduo, defender Jiang Guangtai have been called up along with three newcomers - midfielders Li Yuanyi from Shandong Taishan and Cheng Jin from Zhejiang FC, and Shanghai Port full back Wang Zhen'ao, while the 35-year-old captain Wu Xi was left out.

"We called up these players because they are the best, and we believe in their strong ability to learn," said the 70-year-old Croatian. "They have quickly met the new requirements."

Ivankovic, who led Oman to one win and one draw against China in the 2022 Qatar World Cup Asian qualifiers, noted, "We have played China several times in recent years so that we already have a good understanding of the abilities of Chinese players."

Ai, who scored four goals for China in 13 World Cup qualification games, made a surprise return although he hasn't played a single minute in the new Chinese Super League season due to injury.

"Ai has almost recovered. Even if he can't play the full 90 minutes, we believe that five or 10 minutes on the field will still have a positive impact on the team. We don't have many options in the striking position, and his arrival is of great significance to us," said Ivankovic.

Fei earned his first call-up in two years thanks to his strong showing in the AFC Champions League. The 31-year-old striker came off the bench to score a vital goal for Shandong against Kawasaki Frontale in the round of 16.

"Fei has an outstanding ability and we believe he will be a great help to the team. He has expressed a strong desire to play for the national team," Ivankovic commented.

Having led Shandong to the Chinese Super League champions in the 2010 season and being named Coach of the Year, Ivankovic said that the performance of his former club in the AFC Champions League has given him confidence.

"We like to embrace challenges. We believe in the potential and strength of Chinese football," Ivankovic said of his objectives in his new position.

"We want to write a new chapter of Chinese football."

China's men's national team has only qualified for one World Cup, in 2002, under Bora Milutinovic. Achieving a second appearance in football's premier tournament remains the ultimate aim for Ivankovic and all of his predecessors.

"The first thing we did with the players at the training camp was to set out our goal. Only players who agree with it can join the national team," Ivankovic noted. "Qualifying for the World Cup is our highest goal."

"We came here to accept the challenge. This is definitely a new and big challenge, but I hope it will become a highlight in my resume."

Following is Ivankovic's 26-man squad:

Goalkeepers: Liu Dianzuo, Yan Junling, Wang Dalei;

Defenders: Jiang Guangtai, Zhang Linpeng, Zhu Chenjie, Jiang Shenglong, Liu Yang, Li Lei, Wang Zhen'ao, Gao Zhunyi, Deng Hanwen;

Midfielders: Chen Pu, Li Yuanyi, Cheng Jin, Wei Shihao, Dai Weijun, Gao Tianyi, Xie Pengfei, Lin Liangming, Ba Dun, Wang Shangyuan;

Forwards: Wu Lei, Ai Kesen, Fei Nanduo, Zhang Yuning. Enditem

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