China coach tells players to stay ‘calm’ in Taiwan clash at Asian Cup

Perth, Australia – China head coach Ante Milicic has stressed composure and belief as his side prepare for a politically charged Women’s Asian Cup quarter-final against Taiwan on Saturday, warning that the reigning champions cannot afford to underestimate an opponent that has steadily grown into the tournament.

China, chasing a record-extending 10th continental crown, arrived in the last eight after topping their group, yet Milicic is wary of a Taiwanese squad that pushed Japan hard before winning back-to-back games to advance. “They gave Japan a very difficult game and then went on to win their next two matches, so we know this will be a tough proposition,” the coach said at the pre-match briefing. “If we execute our game plan and perform to the level we know we can, that should be enough for us to get the result. If we follow a clear process, remain calm and confident and take it one game at a time, we can be successful and hopefully go further in the tournament.”

The fixture carries added tension off the pitch. Both teams have drawn vocal support throughout the competition, but Taiwan’s previous outing in Sydney ended in controversy when former national coach Chen Kuei-jen was removed from the stadium for orchestrating a “Taiwan Jiayu” chant during the victory over India. Taipei’s foreign ministry has since lodged a protest with the Asian Football Confederation, alleging “unequal treatment”. In international sport, Taiwan compete as “Chinese Taipei” under a long-standing agreement that allows the island to participate without asserting sovereign status.

Taiwan’s current coach, Thailand’s Prasobchoke Chokemor, preferred to keep the focus on football. “We can say we did well against Japan, holding them to a 0-0 draw in the first half,” he noted. “It will be a different game tactically, but we are confident we can compete against top-level players if we stay focused on ourselves and fight as a team.”

Beyond a place in the semi-finals, the stakes are heightened by 2027 World Cup qualification: the tournament’s top six finishers will secure spots at next year’s global finals in Brazil. With both nations eyeing that prize, Saturday’s encounter in Perth is poised to be as tense as it is decisive.