China national soccer team head coach Branko Ivankovic Photo: VCG

Chinese national soccer team head coach Branko Ivankovic said Monday that Indonesia is a team that his players should take seriously, as they will host Indonesia in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, on Tuesday in a FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier.

"Our opponent Indonesia is a team we must take seriously. They've earned three points in their first three matches," Ivankovic told reporters at the pre-match news conference through an interpreter, referring to Indonesia's record of having three draws in the group.

"As hosts, we must display the courage and passion that befits the home fans, and we need to give our all to secure victory."

China opened its qualifying campaign with a 7-0 fiasco to Japan, before being defeated 2-1 at home by 10-man Saudi Arabia, and then fumbling a 1-0 lead to suffer a 3-1 loss in Australia on Thursday.

Three straight defeats have left the Chinese team rooted at the bottom of Group C, with zero points and a goal difference of minus 10. Ivankovic's side must start picking up points if they are to keep their FIFA World Cup 2026 hopes alive.

Despite an inferior head-to-head record against the Chinese team, Indonesia is a much-improving team compared to their previous outings thanks to over a dozen naturalized players.

"Most of their players are naturalized, and they play a European style of football," Ivankovic said, noting most of Indonesia's naturalized players originated from the Netherlands.

"We've conducted targeted training in response to this, ensuring our players will give their all, press hard, and execute the game plan we need to win."

The Chinese team's loss to Australia raised eyebrows from the fans over the quality of the players' defense as well as the coach's capability to manage the team.

"It's true that we've conceded some goals - five in stoppage time, four from set pieces. We need to be more focused, especially in the final moments of the game," the 70-year-old Croatian said.

"Our first three opponents - Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Australia - are the strongest teams in Asia, all of whom have been regulars at the World Cup. The difficulty of playing against such strong opponents is understandable. As a coach with 40 years of experience, I know how to handle this kind of pressure, and I'm willing to take it on."

In contrast of China's poor record in defense, under South Korean coach Shin Tae-yong, Indonesia conceded only two goals in the matches against Asian powerhouses Saudi Arabia and Australia.

The Chinese team is also facing several injury concerns, including star player Wu Lei.

"Right now, many people are concerned about injuries. But it's entirely normal for professional athletes to experience injuries," Ivankovic said. "We will use all the available players to the best of our ability to tackle the upcoming match."

The top two teams in current group will directly qualify for the 2026 World Cup, while the third and fourth-placed teams move into a further round of qualifying.

Ivankovic has previously stated that China is aiming for a top-four finish, while also noting that the Indonesia game is "just the beginning of a real battle."