China coach Shui Qingxia (1st L) greets her players after their 2022 East Asian Football Federation Championship match against South Korea at Kashima Soccer Stadium in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, July 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
China coach Shui Qingxia urged her players to prepare both physically and mentally ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
QINGDAO, July 5 (Xinhua) -- China national women's team head coach Shui Qingxia has encouraged her players to "face challenges with a smile no matter what happens" at the impending 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
"To be frank, the players are not currently 100 percent ready for the World Cup. With just 17 days remaining before our opening match, the players must prepare both physically and mentally. I hope they can hit their peak level as the tournament nears," stated Shui, whose team is scheduled to depart for Adelaide, Australia, on Friday.
The Steel Roses have been grouped into Group D, alongside England, Denmark and Haiti, and play their opening game against Denmark on July 22.
"The opening match against Denmark is very crucial for us, as well as for our opponents. Denmark have several players who are active in the English Premier League, and they exceed us in terms of match intensity. We are unfamiliar with Haiti, but upon analyzing videos, it's apparent their players are strong and quick. England, without a doubt, are one of the world's top teams. We need to stay composed, stick to our style of football and give our all in every match," Shui remarked.
The 56-year-old also reminded her players to stay grounded following their triumph at last year's Asian Cup.
"Chinese fans will undoubtedly have higher expectations for our team after we won the Asian Cup. It's beneficial for the team. We aim to set a loftier goal of reaching the quarterfinals in Australia. However, we must understand that the World Cup and Asian Cup are entirely different, and this is going to be much more challenging," Shui observed.
"Experiencing my first World Cup as a head coach, I do feel nervous at times. I hope I can maintain my composure and assist my players in building confidence," Shui added. "No matter what unfolds in the World Cup, I hope my players can face challenges with a smile and demonstrate China's fighting spirit to all our fans." ■
