This article is part of the Guardian’s Women’s World Cup 2023 Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 32 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from two countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 20 July.
Overview
With the expansion of the Women’s World Cup to accommodate 32 teams, China found their path to qualification smoothed considerably thanks to the availability of at least five spots in the Asian Football Confederation (especially with Australia qualifying as hosts). After triumphing 3-1 over Vietnam in the quarter-final of the 2022 AFC Asian Cup, the Steel Roses secured their place.
China’s momentum remained unbroken in the semi-final against Japan, the defending champions, and in the final against South Korea. Now, 17 months later and under the guidance of Shui Qingxia, their head coach, China are poised to embark on their World Cup journey as the reigning Asian champions.
Shui’s tactics are adaptable. The style of play exhibited against Japan or South Korea was markedly different from the football China displayed against teams like Iran or Vietnam. The flexibility is embodied by Wang Shanshan, the captain, a veteran who switches between striker and centre-back.
The opponents China will face in Group D – Denmark, Haiti and England – represent a new level of challenge. “Europe is at the forefront of women’s football’s development. There is a significant gap between us and European teams,” said Shui during China’s European tour in April.
The unexpected victory in the Asian Cup, partially thanks to the players’ strong mentality and also a bit of luck, does not indicate that China have returned to the elite level of women’s football. Nor does it mean China have outclassed Japan and South Korea in Asia. Five months after winning the Asian Cup, the Steel Roses encountered those two longstanding foes in the EAFF E-1 Football Championship. Despite ending in two draws, the matches were dominated by China’s opponents, especially against Japan, who were without some of their best players.
The glory of yesteryear could turn into today’s disgrace if the debacle of the 8-2 defeat by the Netherlands in the Tokyo Olympic Games were to reoccur against England or Denmark. Shui knows the challenges that lie ahead. “We understand the difficulties without complaining about it,” she said.
The coach
Shui Qingxia, China’s first female head coach, was appointed just two months before the kick-off of the 2022 AFC Asian Cup. Amid an air of scant optimism, she led the team, which had been thumped in the Tokyo Olympics six months prior, to glory. The unexpected achievement – the first time the China women’s team have been Asian champions since 2006 – as well as the dramatic victories made her a national hero. For Shui herself, it was a seventh Asian Cup title. During her playing career, she participated in almost all the major tournaments for China from 1986 to 2001, but missed the glorious 1999 World Cup campaign, in which the Steel Roses finished as runners-up.
Star player
As it was four years ago, Wang Shuang is still China’s standout performer. The 28-year-old, who can play as an attacking midfielder or a second striker, remains a pre-eminent virtuoso. As the most skilful player in Chinese women’s football, Wang is the source of creativity and was the only highlight of China’s disappointing Tokyo Olympics. Though she made little impact in the Asian Cup due to injury, her resolution still inspired people around her. “Prior to the final, I asked if she could play and she said yes without any hesitation,” said Shui. “This is the epitome of Chinese women’s football spirit.”
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Rising star
Ten years ago, in front of China Central Television’s cameras, Zhang Linyan, a promising student of the Evergrande academy, said her goal was to help the China women’s team surpass the golden generation led by Sun Wen. At the age of 22, Zhang, having been named the Swiss Women’s Super League player of the year last season, is set to make her World Cup debut. Though the attacking midfielder stands at just 5ft tall, she has adapted well to the physical demands of European football. “Both in attacking and defending, she had a strong presence,” Shui said.
Did you know?
Zhang Linyan announced her lofty goal during a TV programme themed around David Beckham’s visit to China. During the half-time performance of a Chinese Super League game that Beckham attended, Zhang had the chance to play with Uncle Beck (as she called him), before taking a photo with the England legend. Nine years later, following China’s victory in the Asian Cup final, in which Zhang made significant impact by coming off the bench to score the equaliser, Uncle Beck’s Chinese social media account congratulated her. Ten years after playing with the former captain of the Three Lions, Zhang is now set to play against England’s Lionesses.
China’s women’s team is a source of national pride. In general, though, women’s football receives little attention outside of major tournaments when the Steel Roses are expected to garner more glory. While the Chinese FA does not disclose the exact figures for registered female players, the number of women involved in football is believed to be markedly low. Overall, women’s football in China serves as a pursuit of national dignity, and the success of the women’s team acts as a stick with which to poke the men’s team, rather than a sport with widespread engagement.
Realistic aim at the World Cup?
Though Shui has said “advancing to the quarter-finals” is the goal, qualifying for the knockout stage will be a huge challenge. Shui probably understands this well, as she repeatedly mentions the remarkable progress of European football. The first match against Denmark is seen as key for the whole campaign. Finishing bottom of the group would be viewed as a bitter disappointment. However, Haiti, with several players in Division 1 Féminine, appear to be stronger opponents than Zambia. The latter, a mostly semi-professional squad, drew with China at the Tokyo Olympics.
