New China coach Marcello Lippi has said the country's hopes of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup are not finished yet.
Lippi, appointed as Gao Hongbo's replacement on Saturday, said he was not writing off the team's chances with six games remaining in the final phase of Asia's qualifying campaign.
"My aim is to help Chinese football to grow and improve," Lippi, who guided Guangzhou to three Chinese Super League titles and the 2013 Asian Champions League, said.
"We are not in a good position in the final stage, but we are not completely out of hope. I saw some balance in the past four games, and no team was clearly better than China."
Lippi, who coached Italy to glory at the 2006 World Cup, said his new players would need to "overcome matches one by one."
He added: "I hope we can gain back confidence in the next game against Qatar next month. If we can't achieve what are hoping, we will focus on the Asian Cup.
"I don't think Chinese players are far worse than other Asian players in terms of individual quality.
"But they need to work as a team, to help their teammates when there are any difficulties without holding anything back. If we can have this mentality, we won't be afraid of any opponent."
The Italian takes over a team that has picked up just one point from four matches, prompting Gao to stand down after defeat to Uzbekistan earlier this month.
China are bottom of Group A, two points behind Qatar. The top two nations qualify automatically for Russia while the team in third place -- currently South Korea -- enters a round of playoffs.
Lippi stressed that, despite having turned down the offer to lead China in the past, he was ready to take charge after an 18-month sabbatical from the game.
"This time I have already rested for one-and-a-half years, so am very happy to accept the role," he said.