Football
Michael Church, Asia correspondent 7y

Marcello Lippi sticks with Guangzhou Evergrande stars in China squad

Marcello Lippi has named seven players from reigning Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande in his squad to face South Korea and Iran in this month's 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

Lippi, who led Guangzhou to the Asian Champions League title in 2013 and three Chinese Super League titles, has once again included Evergrande captain Zheng Zhi as well as Feng Xiaoting, Gao Lin, Huang Bowen, Mei Fang, Zeng Cheng and Zhang LInpeng.

Deng Hanwen of China League One side Beijing Renhe, who was part of an experimental selection for January's China Cup, was the only surprise inclusion in the 25-man squad, which will take on South Korea in Changsha on March 23 before flying to Tehran to meet Iran five days later.

Chinese Super League leaders Shanghai SIPG provide four players, with Wu Lei selected alongside Cai Huikang, Yan Junling and Yu Hai.

China are bottom of their World Cup qualifying group, having picked up just two points in their opening five games, with Lippi in charge for the 0-0 draw with Qatar in November after replacing Gao Hongbo.

The top two teams qualify automatically for the World Cup in Russia and China are eight points adrift of second-placed South Korea, with Iran leading the group by a further point. Third place -- currently occupied by Uzbekistan on nine points -- goes into a playoff.

China squad: Yu Dabao, Zhang Xizhe (Beijing Guoan), Deng Hanwen (Beijing Renhe), Fan Xiaodong (Changchun Yatai), Feng Xiaoting, Gao Lin, Huang Bowen, Mei Fang, Zeng Cheng, Zhang Linpeng, Zheng Zhi (Guangzhou Evergrande), Jiang Zhipeng (Guangzhou R&F), Ren Hang, Yin Hongbo, Zhao Mingjian (Hebei China Fortune), Wu Xi (Jiangsu Suning), Hao Junmin, Wang Dalei (Shandong Luneng), Cai Huikang, Wu Lei, Yan Junling, Yu Hai (Shanghai SIPG), Cao Yunding (Shanghai Shenhua), Wang Yongpo (Tianjin Quanjian), Zhang Yuning (SBV Vitesse).

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