China coach Ivankovic finds encouragement in team's improved performance despite loss to Saudi Arabia

The Croatian team must aim to secure a top two finish in Group C in order to qualify directly for the finals, a feat they achieved only once before in 2002. A third or fourth place finish would still keep their hopes alive, as they could qualify through additional rounds of qualifiers.

After a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Japan in their group opener in Saitama last week, Ivankovic was encouraged that the task was achievable as China lost to the Saudis only by virtue of Hassan Kadish's 90th-minute header.

"The question shouldn't be directed at me," Ivankovic said when asked if he would resign, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We suffered a substantial loss in the first match, but we improved in the second.

"This group includes some strong opponents and our goal is to reach the top four. We're working towards that with eight matches still remaining."

Ivankovic also defended himself against criticism of his decision not to make earlier substitutions to chase the win against a Saudi side reduced to 10 men by the dismissal of Mohammed Kanno in the 19th minute.

"The team was well-organised on the pitch, so I decided not to make changes," he added. "The match was very complicated, so I needed some substitutes available to handle different situations."

The match was played against the backdrop of an earlier announcement by the China Football Association in Dalian that 38 players, including three former internationals, and five club officials had been banned for life for match-fixing.

The latest of a series of crackdowns on corruption in Chinese football will only further blight the reputation of a sport already in the doldrums because of the repeated failures to qualify for the World Cup.

The task for the group's bottom side does not get any easier in their next fixture against an Australia side also desperate for a first win of their campaign in Adelaide on Oct. 10.

"We will carefully analyse our opponents and strive for better results," Ivankovic said.