China found its path to qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup smoothed considerably. Having at least five spots open in the Asian Football Confederation, especially with Australia earning the right to host. The Steel Roses qualified for the 2022 AFC Asian Cup after defeating Vietnam 3-1 in the quarterfinal. In both the semifinal matchup with the reigning champions, Japan, and the championship matchup with South Korea, China’s momentum held steady.
The strategies of Shui are flexible. China’s football against Iran or Vietnam was very different from the way they played against Japan and South Korea. Wang Shanshan, the team’s captain and a seasoned player who can transition between playing center-back and striker, is an example of adaptability. Their Group D opponents, Denmark, Haiti, and England, pose a fresh degree of difficulty.
The surprising Asian Cup triumph, which was partly attributed to the players’ strong mindset and some good luck, does not mean China has reclaimed its former position as a powerhouse in women’s football. It also does not imply that China has superiority over Japan and South Korea in Asia. They played those two enduring rivals in the EAFF E-1 Football Championship five months after winning the Asian Cup. Even though both games ended in draws, China’s opponents dominated them, especially against Japan, who was missing several of its finest players. The Netherlands’ embarrassing 8-2 loss at the Olympic Games in Tokyo might become today’s shame if it happens again against England or Denmark. Shui is aware of the difficulties ahead.
The Manager
Two months before the 2022 AFC Asian Cup began, Shui Qingxia, China’s first female head coach, was hired. She became a national hero as a result of her unexpected success. The first Asian championship for the China women’s team since 2006. It was Shui’s seventh Asian Cup victory. She took part in nearly all of the major competitions China were a part of during her playing career, which spanned from 1986 to 2001, but she was absent during the Steel Roses’ illustrious 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign, which saw them finish as runners-up.
Star player
Wang Shuang is China’s star performance, just as he was four years ago. The 28-year-old is still a premier virtuoso and can play as an offensive midfielder or a second striker. Wang is the most talented player in Chinese women’s football. She is the inspiration for inventiveness and the sole bright spot of China’s poor Olympics performance in Tokyo. Due to her injuries, she had a limited influence on the Asian Cup.
Rising star
Ten years ago, Zhang Linyan, a bright Evergrande academy student, said in front of the cameras of China Central Television that she wanted to assist the China women’s team exceed the Sun Wen-led golden generation. Despite being just 5 feet 1 inch (1.52 meters) tall, the offensive midfielder has adapted well to the physical demands of European football.
Fun Fact
During a television presentation about David Beckham’s visit to China, Zhang Linyan declared her ambitious objective. Zhang got the opportunity to play with Uncle Beck (as she called him) at the halftime show of a Chinese Super League game Beckham attended, followed by a photo with the England star. Uncle Beck’s Chinese social media account praised Zhang nine years later following China’s triumph in the Asian Cup final. Zhang significantly contributed by scoring the equalizer after coming off the bench. Ten years after teaming up with the Three Lions’ former captain, Zhang will now compete against the Lionesses of England.
State of Football
The women’s team of China is a matter of great national pride. Women’s football, however, seldom draws attention outside of significant competitions when the Steel Roses are predicted to win more honors. Even though the Chinese FA withholds precise numbers, it is widely assumed that there are very few women playing football. Overall, rather than being a popular sport, women’s football serves as a quest for national pride, and the women’s team’s success is used to poke fun at the men’s squad.
Our Prediction
Even though Shui stated that “advancing to the quarter-finals” was the objective, getting to the knockout stage would be extremely difficult. Shui likely has a good understanding of this as she frequently brings out the impressive development of European football. The opening game versus Denmark is seen as crucial for the entire season. However, Haiti seems to be a better opponent than Zambia. They have numerous players that play in the French top league. At the Tokyo Olympics, the latter team—mostly made up of semi-professional athletes—drew with China.
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