China's women's soccer team is now in full swing for the 2007
FIFA Women's World Cup after a morale boosting drubbing of Hungary
in its final warm-up match on Wednesday.
The 1999 World Cup runner-up, seeded in Group D, is now looking
to win its opening match against Denmark in Wuhan on Tuesday before
facing powerhouse Brazil and the less-fancied New Zealand in a bid
to rekindle past glories and at least qualify for the finals.
China boasts a proud history in women's football, winning silver
at the 1996 Olympics before narrowly losing the World Cup final to
the United States three years later.
But the Steel Roses have been wilting ever since, plunging to
11th in the world and struggling to even play against tiny teams
like Iceland.
China recruited Swedish veteran Marika Domanski-Lyfors as coach
in March in the hope she would spearhead the team's comeback.
The determined Swede said the team was on the right track in
defense and attack after the 4-0 defeat of Hungary.
"We started defensively, quite compact," she said.
"We gave them a lot of pressure. We stood in the right position
in the defense.
"There were nice goals and nice competitions in the second half.
We played very good teamwork and had more combinations, especially
in attacking.
"I think we have done all the preparations we can. We have
worked out for four months and we have reached the level we can
reach now."
She added the 4-0 demolition meant a lot more days before the
tournament.
"(After a comfortable win) it is important we are not scared
when we go out and play the games. We have to start in a very high
level immediately."
Overcoming Denmark will be no easy feat, with the world No 6
renowned for its technical skill and well-organized play.
Domanski-Lyfors, who led Sweden to the 2003 World Cup final
against Germany, has urged her players to forget the pressure and
win the opening match against a tough opponent.
"We have a good mental condition, we are quite stable," she
said.
"But our players feel a lot of pressure and have the home nation
on the shoulders.
"I hope that pressure will be released a little bit against
Denmark. I think it is a hard match for us.
"We have to get to the position in defending because Denmark is
another team, so we will get more space when we are in transition
to attacking."
The ambitious Domanski-Lyfors also knows how important it is to
top the group.
Brazil's recent 1-2 defeat of Japan also raised the host's
chances.
"We should know we are quite good and we are stronger than
before," she said.
"We have more self-confidence from wins.
"We had scouting team on the game between Brazil and Japan. The
match only shows we can beat Brazil."
Brazil, gunning for its first ever World Cup title, will be
counting on inspirational feats from Marta Vieira Da Siolva, the
2006 FIFA Player, of the Year and some members of the team that won
silver at the 2004 Olympics.
"We recently proved ourselves to be the world's third-best team
at Under-20 level, which was a great starting point for this
squad," Brazil coach Jorge Barcellos said.
"My sights are now set on taking these girls to the very top of
world football over in China."
The Brazilians have showed they are at their best after winning
gold at the recent Pan American Games, where they trounced a young
US team 5-0 in the final.
But for China, other encouraging news is that talented striker
Ma Xiaoxu scored her first international goal since the Swedish
coach took over and played better teamwork after returning late
from Sweden's domestic league champion Umea IK.
"She is getting better and better from every training and every
game. She showed a lot of running and moving in the game. She was
also involved in the combinations in the second half,"
Domanski-Lyfors said.
"The second half also showed when we are moving a lot, then the
Chinese team will be at the best."
Ma and team top scorer Han Duan are set to lead the attack from
the front during the tournament.
But asked if she had concluded a starting line-up,
Domanski-Lyfors said any changes were possible right before the
first match.
"I cannot tell you the team now because Denmark will know it,"
she said.
"There are some days left and the players are in my mind, but
you have to make decision right before the first game.
"You are always getting answers from different games. So in this
game, I got some answers from some players."
Defending champions Germany, the US and Norway are top seeds in
the three other groups for the FIFA event from September 10-30 in
Shanghai, Tianjin, Wuhan, Hangzhou and Chengdu.
China's FIFA Women's World Cup record
*Failed to reach the last four of the inaugural tournament in
China in 1991 after losing to Sweden in the quarterfinal.
* Finished fourth in Sweden in 1995
* Came runners-up in 1999 in the USA
* Eliminated by Canada in the quarterfinals in the USA in
2003
(China Daily September 7, 2007)