Asian Cup winners China braces for a stiff challenge at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup even more than their previous season. Coach Shui Qingxia is bringing a youthful squad to Australia and New Zealand to give a memorable fight while this is the last dance for some veterans in the mix. China will hope to roll back their glory years and avoid disappointments like in the Olympics two years ago.
History
The China women’s national football team has been represented at the Women’s World Cup every time since its official recognition by FIFA in 1991. The Steel Roses have always qualified for the knockouts in the competition history with their biggest achievement coming in 1999. The team reached the final in that edition to be beaten by the USA on penalties after it ended scoreless in 120 minutes of football. They also lost to the same opponents in a third-place fight in the prior tournament. In the last edition, China reached the last 16 stages but lost 2-0 to Italy.
Qualification for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
Being among the top five nations in the Asian Cup and also winning the competition, China sealed qualification for the 2023 Women’s World Cup by reaching the quarterfinals itself of the tournament played in 2022. They defeated Vietnam at that stage then beat Japan on penalties in the semis and another heavyweight in South Korea in the final with a last-minute winner in 3-2 thriller. Even though they are record holders of the Women’s Asian Cup, the triumph was an unexpected one as they fell from their grace over the years.
Preparation for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
Shui’s side played six friendlies and only managed to win the doubleheader against Russia. China drew goalless against Ireland and Switzerland which will go down as hopeful results but were beaten heavily by Sweden and Spain. The last friendly match before the event starts is against Colombia on Monday, 17th July 2023.
China Squad for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
Goalkeepers: Zhu Yu (Wuhan Jianghan University), Xu Huan (Jiangsu), Pan Hongyan (Beijing)
Defenders: Wu Haiyan (Wuhan Jianghan University), Yao Wei (Wuhan Jianghan University), Wang Linlin (Shanghai Shengli), Gao Chen (Changchun Dazhong Zhuoyue), Chen Qiaozhu (Guangzhou), Li Mengwen (Jiangsu), Dou Jiaxing (Jiangsu), Lou Jiahui (Henan Jianye)
Midfielders: Zhang Rui (Wuhan Jianghan University), Yao Lingwei (Wuhan Jianghan University), Gu Yasha (Wuhan Jianghan University), Zhang Xin (Shanghai Shengli), Yang Lina (Shanghai Shengli), Wu Chengshu (Canberra United), Zhang Linyan (Wuhan Jianghan University), Shen Mengyu (Celtic)
Forwards: Wang Shanshan (Wuhan Jianghan University), Wang Shuang (Racing Louisville), Tang Jiali (Shanghai Shengli), Xiao Yuyi (Shanghai Shengli)
Head Coach: Shui Qingxia
Strength
The strength of the team is their variation in play as they are not knocked out even if they face a heavy loss. Switching between pragmatic style of play to being more open at times is something China have in their custody to make them unpredictable. The versatility also shows in the player’s adaptability too with Wang Shanshan, the veteran captain, remarkably shifting from centre-back to forward role according to the situation and nature of matches. Their mentality is strong.
Weakness
Despite that, the gulf of quality and progress for the European nations in particular is huge as the players rightly point out. The federation does little to care about women’s football in the nation and whatever status the team is all by themselves apparently. The opposition in the group will be far stronger this time and it may break their streak of qualifying for knockouts every time in the Women’s World Cup.
Key Player: Wang Shuang
A creative lynchpin for China even at a dire strait, Wang Shuang will be hoping to use her magic to help her side move out from a difficult group in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. She was the sole player always trying to make something happen at the Olympics bagging four goals when the team was suffering. The 28-year-old has been the shining light in major tournaments. Playing for Racing Louisville in the United States, Shuang will try to use the stage to bring more out of her play after injury troubled her in the Asian Cup in spite of the team winning.
How will China Lineup at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023?
China FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Groups & Fixtures
Group D
China
Denmark
England
Haiti
Fixtures
Saturday, 22 July 2023
Denmark vs China - Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth (17:30)
Friday, 28 July 2023
China vs Haiti - Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide (16:30)
Tuesday, 1 August 2023
China vs England - Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide (16:30)
Prediction
China will face a mammoth battle for the second place which will be their only source to qualify for the knockouts this time after the tournament was expanded to 32 teams. Facing Denmark in the first game, with England tipped to win the group, puts them in a direct battle for the berth straightaway. A draw will keep their chances alive for the next game against debutants Haiti but even they will be unpredictable opposition. The final match is a damage limitation task because China will be forced to defend for a point if possible to stay in the race.
Note: All timings are in Indian Standard Time (IST)
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