Concerned by a string of injuries to his national squad, Chinese soccer coach Bora Milutinovic has told players to save their energies for China's debut in the World Cup finals, state media said.
"I want to see a complete and healthy team when we meet together next time for training -- no one even walking with the support of another," the Serbian coach was quoted saying by the Huaxi Dushi Daily.
"We must make sure that the national team is always in its best form," he said. "Although the league means bread and butter to the players, there is nothing else that can compare with the honour of participating in the World Cup final round."
The Chinese Football Association has banned injured members of the national squad from playing in the last two rounds of the Chinese league after 11 of the 35-man lineup suffered injuries, according to state media.
The injured include China's number one striker Hao Haidong, captain Ma Mingyu and key midfielder Yu Genwei.
"They should learn to protect themselves in the coming months before the opening of the World Cup," Milutinovic was quoted as saying.
China will be appearing in their first ever World Cup finals and are drawn insgroupsC of the tournament alongside Brazil, Turkey and Costa Rica.
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