Relaxation is the key strategy China should adopt for their upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier against Thailand, according to former Chinese international Liu Yue.

The Chinese team will face Thailand next Thursday at home, with the winner advancing to the final round of Asian World Cup qualifiers.

The players' ability to control and adjust themselves will be crucial in this closely contested game, Liu noted.

"Football players usually experience several psychological fluctuations during the 90 minutes of a game, which is hardly noticeable to outsiders," he said.

"China's away win over Thailand is precious," he said of the Chinese side's 2-1 triumph in Bangkok last November. "This time playing at home, China should pay more attention to the players' psychological buildup," he emphasized.

"To some extent, playing at home could be more challenging than playing away if you can't cope well," he added.

"It's impossible for the players to make substantial progress in skill and awareness in a short period. Only positive psychological buildup can help them raise their performances to a different level," Liu concluded.

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