Branko Ivankovic, the newly appointed head coach of Team China, has set his sights on guiding the squad to the FIFA World Cup finals. The 70-year-old Croatian expressed his confidence in the team's ability to regain its form and achieve this ambitious goal.

Ivankovic acknowledged that China has invested heavily in soccer but emphasized the need for improved results. He believes that the Chinese team has the potential to compete at the Asian level and praised the progress made by the players. Having observed the squad, he is optimistic about their ability to deliver better performances.

Ivankovic's immediate focus is on securing victories in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Singapore on March 21 and 26. He will lead a coaching team that combines his own selections with Chinese coaches. The duration of his tenure will be determined by the team's results, with a clause in his contract allowing the Chinese Football Association (CFA) to terminate the deal if the team fails to advance in the qualifiers.

Ivankovic expressed his pride in becoming Team China's head coach and emphasized the importance of collaboration to achieve success. He acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed confidence in meeting the expectations of the fans and the entire coaching team.

Despite a limited preparation time and the ongoing Chinese Super League season, Ivankovic believes that the team can reach its peak condition through a training camp. He highlighted the need to adjust the players' fitness levels to ensure optimal performance in the upcoming qualifiers.