PFDC - BEIJING, With everyone fit and apart from Nosrati eligible to play, Branko Ivankovic will have the luxury of choice for tomorrow's eagerly awaited semifinal clash against hosts China. Also China's Arie Haan is expecting a good offensive match, as he told reporters in the prematch press conference today.

The Dutchman, however, showed very concerned about destructive reports in Chinese media, critisizing the team and the staff. After a few minutes of complaints, Haan then started focusing on the match. "Everyone expected South Korea to go through, but it was Iran who made it." "We know that they are very strong both in mental and in physical aspect but we have also played good as you have seen and have to concentrate on our own game", he continued.

China's headcoach also showed aware of Iran's strong offensive line, announcing to answer back by playing even more offensively. To achieve that, Haan is not intending to change the team, which "played very well so far, as everyone could see". This means China will play their usual 4-4-2, with strong Li Ming and Yan Song on the wings, gifted playmaker Shao in center and Hao Haidong together with Li Jinyu upfront.

The hosts then went on to their final training session on the nearby training ground beside the stadium, starting with light training with the ball, then practising crossing on the far post with finishing and concluding with a shooting training - which, however, not always went as wanted, as a window of the nearby building was broken and one shot even landed in the Press Media Center in second floor - just narrowly missing Team Melli's Majeed Panahi, working on the PC there. Majeed Panahi, however, bravely went on to continue his duty, despite the Chinese aggression.

Iran's practice in Worker's Stadium then turned out to be safer for the public, as it was a closed session. Just the last 15 minutes could be attended by the reporters, in which the players - including assistant coach Hossein Faraki - were divided into two teams and played a training match on half field, until pouring rain forced players and reporters to leave the picth.

Branko Ivankovic, Iran's headcoach, then pointed out how much the team is looking forward to the match in a packed stadium. He, however, also showed respect of the opponent, who he sees very strong in each section of the field. The Croatian went on to rule out any excuses of having less rest than the Chinese team in advance. "Of course it is a slight advantage for China", Ivankovic said. "But this will not be decisive and it's simply not possible to have the exactly conditions for every team in such a tournament."

The Iranian coach furthermore denied the good record against China being anything but a small psychological advantage. "Every match is a new match in which history doesn't count. Nowadays every team can beat any team, so such numbers don't help winning the match", he said. Ivankovic then said both Badavi and Rezaei are fit and eligible to play, but he is not yet sure if they will start or come in during the match tomorrow.

Branko Ivankovic, who will stick to the 3-4-3 system, is expected to put internationally experienced Rezaei back into the starting lineup though. Either Taghipour or Kameli will have to make space for him. But it is doubtful, if Badavi will take Zare's spot on the team's left side.

China - Iran

Asian Cup Semifinal, Beijing Workers Stadium, 21:00

Probable Lineups:

China: Liu Yunfei - Sun Xiang, Zheng Zhi, Wei Xing, Li Weifeng - Li Ming, Yan Song, Shao Jiayi, Yan Song - Li Jinyu, Hao Haidong

Iran: Mirzapour - Taghipour/Kameli, Golmohamadi, Rezaei - Kaabi, Nekounam, Alavi, Zare - Mahdavikia, Karimi - Daei