by Genevieve Henry (30/6/23)
Above: China lift the Asian Women’s Cup last year – their ninth triumph in the event which sealed their qualification for the World Cup. Photo: The Bridge.
A team with a long history and a solid record against top opposition, the Asian champions will be looking to come out firing at the World Cup after recent triumphs.
Squad
To be announced.
Head Coach
Coach Shui Qingxia has built this team back up from the bottom, taking them from their dreadful record at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 to winning the 2022 Asian Cup.
This was not easy, facing a penalty shootout against Japan in the semi-final as well as overcoming a 2-0 deficit to win the final against South Korea. This was not the first time that Qingxia had won the tournament, after recording five times as a player. In fact, she has never played for or managed a team that has lost in the competition. Qingxia has refined her coaching technique to support the players mentally as well as maintaining a strict and high-achieving environment.
World Cup History
China, a major force in the earlier years of the women’s game, have qualified for every World Cup with the exception of 2011. As hosts of the inaugural event in 1991, China exited at the quarter-final stage, going down to a Pia Sundhage goal for Sweden in front of 55,000 fans.
Four years later, in Sweden, the Chinese came through a group with USA, Denmark, and Australia before defeating the host nation on penalties in the quarter-finals. They suffered a 1-0 loss to Germany with Bettina Wiegmann scoring the winner with two minutes remaining. The USA defeated them 2-0 in the third-place play-off.
In 1999, China made it all the way to the final in America. Wins over Sweden, Ghana, and Australia saw them through the group stage. Russia were defeated 2-0 in the last eight and Norway were hammered 5-0 in the semis before a 5-4 loss in the final on penalties to the USA.
Back in the USA four years later, China fell 1-0 to Canada in the last eight, a stage they reached in 2007 as hosts when Norways defeated them 1-0 in Wuhan. Failing to qualify in 2011, China returned for the following tournament in Canada when Carli Lloyd’s goal just after the hour mark defeated them. Last time round, they fell 2-0 to Italy in the last sixteen.
How they qualified
China booked their ticket to the World Cup by winning the Asian Women’s Cup last year.
Strengths
The Chinese Women’s National Team has a stoic defence. The experience and will of this team seems impenetrable and it takes something special from the opposition to get past them. They also have some exceptional attackers who trouble even the most successful of backlines.
Development Areas
The link-up between the attacking and defensive players leaves something to be desired. Although there are some talented midfielders in the squad, many don’t have experience at the highest level, containing and creating amongst the best of the best.
Key Players
Set to be one of the most experienced sides to play in the World Cup this summer, the Chinese Women’s National Team is full of players who have travelled the world and faced all the best teams.
Lou Jiahui is versatile, primarily positioned as a defender for her country, but a midfielder for her club in the Chinese Women’s Super League (CWSL), Henan Jianye. She has over 100 appearances for her country as well as a few goals.
Tang Jiali currently plays for Shanghai Shengli in the CWSL, but has also played for English club Tottenham Hotspur and Spanish club Madrid CFF. The midfielder has scored an impressive 31 goals in only 71 caps for her country.
Wang Shuang is another one to keep an eye on. She plays for Racing Louisville in the USA’S National Women’s Soccer League, where she rounds out their incredible record of having players from six different continents! Shuang has 43 goals in her 121 appearances for China, many of which have come in major tournaments. These women could make a huge impact in Australia and New Zealand.
One to watch
Although there are few young players currently in the squad, one name for the future is Zhang Linyan. The 22-year-old plays for Swiss club Grasshoppers Zurich, scoring seven goals in 16 games. She is a prolific scorer, which she will hope can carry over to the national team this summer.
Succcess would be
If China makes it to the quarter-finals, they could be proud. The 1999 silver medalists will know that they have what it takes to do well, but they will also know that the competition surrounding them has greatly improved.
Prediction
The round of Sixteen could be the destination for China. Although it may be hard to make it through the group stage, they will be confident and ready to prove that there is a reason they are Asian Champions.
Group D Fixtures
22nd July – Denmark, HBF Park, Perth.
28th July – Haiti, Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide.
1st August – England, Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide.
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