China's women's soccer team is now in full swing for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup after a morale boosting drubbing of Hungary in its final warm-up match on Wednesday.

 

The 1999 World Cup runner-up, seeded in Group D, is now looking to win its opening match against Denmark in Wuhan on Tuesday before facing powerhouse Brazil and the less-fancied New Zealand in a bid to rekindle past glories and at least qualify for the finals.

 

China boasts a proud history in women's football, winning silver at the 1996 Olympics before narrowly losing the World Cup final to the United States three years later.

 

But the Steel Roses have been wilting ever since, plunging to 11th in the world and struggling to even play against tiny teams like Iceland.

 

China recruited Swedish veteran Marika Domanski-Lyfors as coach in March in the hope she would spearhead the team's comeback.

 

The determined Swede said the team was on the right track in defense and attack after the 4-0 defeat of Hungary.

 

"We started defensively, quite compact," she said.

 

"We gave them a lot of pressure. We stood in the right position in the defense.

 

"There were nice goals and nice competitions in the second half. We played very good teamwork and had more combinations, especially in attacking.

 

"I think we have done all the preparations we can. We have worked out for four months and we have reached the level we can reach now."

 

She added the 4-0 demolition meant a lot more days before the tournament.

 

"(After a comfortable win) it is important we are not scared when we go out and play the games. We have to start in a very high level immediately."

 

Overcoming Denmark will be no easy feat, with the world No 6 renowned for its technical skill and well-organized play.

 

Domanski-Lyfors, who led Sweden to the 2003 World Cup final against Germany, has urged her players to forget the pressure and win the opening match against a tough opponent.

 

"We have a good mental condition, we are quite stable," she said.

 

"But our players feel a lot of pressure and have the home nation on the shoulders.

 

"I hope that pressure will be released a little bit against Denmark. I think it is a hard match for us.

 

"We have to get to the position in defending because Denmark is another team, so we will get more space when we are in transition to attacking."

 

The ambitious Domanski-Lyfors also knows how important it is to top the group.

 

Brazil's recent 1-2 defeat of Japan also raised the host's chances.

 

"We should know we are quite good and we are stronger than before," she said.

 

"We have more self-confidence from wins.

 

"We had scouting team on the game between Brazil and Japan. The match only shows we can beat Brazil."

 

Brazil, gunning for its first ever World Cup title, will be counting on inspirational feats from Marta Vieira Da Siolva, the 2006 FIFA Player, of the Year and some members of the team that won silver at the 2004 Olympics.

 

"We recently proved ourselves to be the world's third-best team at Under-20 level, which was a great starting point for this squad," Brazil coach Jorge Barcellos said.

 

"My sights are now set on taking these girls to the very top of world football over in China."

 

The Brazilians have showed they are at their best after winning gold at the recent Pan American Games, where they trounced a young US team 5-0 in the final.

 

But for China, other encouraging news is that talented striker Ma Xiaoxu scored her first international goal since the Swedish coach took over and played better teamwork after returning late from Sweden's domestic league champion Umea IK.

 

"She is getting better and better from every training and every game. She showed a lot of running and moving in the game. She was also involved in the combinations in the second half," Domanski-Lyfors said.

 

"The second half also showed when we are moving a lot, then the Chinese team will be at the best."

 

Ma and team top scorer Han Duan are set to lead the attack from the front during the tournament.

 

But asked if she had concluded a starting line-up, Domanski-Lyfors said any changes were possible right before the first match.

 

"I cannot tell you the team now because Denmark will know it," she said.

 

"There are some days left and the players are in my mind, but you have to make decision right before the first game.

 

"You are always getting answers from different games. So in this game, I got some answers from some players."

 

Defending champions Germany, the US and Norway are top seeds in the three other groups for the FIFA event from September 10-30 in Shanghai, Tianjin, Wuhan, Hangzhou and Chengdu.

 

China's FIFA Women's World Cup record

 

*Failed to reach the last four of the inaugural tournament in China in 1991 after losing to Sweden in the quarterfinal.

 

* Finished fourth in Sweden in 1995

 

* Came runners-up in 1999 in the USA

 

* Eliminated by Canada in the quarterfinals in the USA in 2003

 

(China Daily September 7, 2007)