China ready to face World Cup pressure - captain
China's women's football team is ready to take on the pressure of being regional champions at the upcoming World Cup, according to their captain Wang Shanshan. The team secured their first title in 16 years at the Women's Asian Cup final in 2022, beating South Korea 3-2 in a match that showcased the progress made in Chinese women's football. Wang, who scored five goals to be named the Asian Cup's best player, acknowledged that the World Cup would be a greater challenge, with the team facing not just Asian teams, but world-class sides.
China, nicknamed the Steel Roses, will compete in Group D with England, Haiti, and Denmark in the upcoming tournament, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand from 20 July to 20 August. The team, who were runners-up at the 1999 World Cup, have played at the finals seven times, finishing fourth in 1995 and reaching the round of 16 in France in 2019.
Wang praised the team's cohesiveness under coach Shui Qingxia, who took over in November 2021, and said they were playing their own game. She added that the team hopes to showcase the spirit of Chinese women's football and their radical tactics at a higher level and on a bigger stage.
As one of the strongest teams in Asia, China will be looking to make a deep run at the World Cup and improve on their previous performances. They will face tough competition in England, who are currently ranked third in the world, as well as Denmark, who are ranked 14th. Haiti, who are making their debut in the tournament, are expected to be the underdogs of the group.
The World Cup will be a crucial test for China, as they look to re-establish themselves as one of the top teams in women's football. The team has a rich history, with their best performance at the World Cup coming in 1999, when they reached the final. While they have not been as successful in recent years, their victory at the Asian Cup in 2022 showed that they are capable of competing with the best teams in the region.
Overall, China's women's football team is confident and ready to take on the challenge of the World Cup. With a strong coach and talented players, they have the potential to make a deep run in the tournament and show the world what they are capable of. Fans around the world will be watching to see if they can live up to their reputation as one of the best teams in Asia and make a mark on the global stage.
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