China are gearing up for the Women's World Cup, where they will play Germany, Spain and South Africa in June, in France. In 2018, China won third place at the Women's Asian Cup. In the semi-final they were beaten 3-1 by the eventual winners Japan, in the tournament held in Jordan. goalscorers v Thailand: Song Duan 56', 77', Wang Shuang 63', Li Ying 67' In the Asian Games 2018, the Steel Roses won the silver medals, losing 1-0 again to Japan in the final in Indonesia. Previous threads: 2006, 2007, 2013 with @greenlion, @seb_perpignan, @Puckodum, @Zhou Jiabao, @jonny63
Their first match of January 2019 will be in the Four Nations Tournament in Meizhou. In the semi-final it's China v Nigeria, who became the African champions last month. (Match is on Thursday, 11:35 GMT - not sure about coverage. Best to check https://twitter.com/chinawft) Team captain Wu Haiyan talked about the WWC 2019, and China's quarter-final run in 2015, here: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201812/27/WS5c242a8ea310d91214051295.html China's captain Wu Haiyan, and China & PSG player Wang Shuang (photos: IQremix, cc-by-sa / Andre Borges/Agência Brasília, cc-by)
Highlights are on Facebook - www.facebook.com/chinawomensfootballteam/videos/370990717052699 China starting XI: 19- Bi Xiaolin; 21- Liu Huiting, 5- Wu Haiyan, 8- Li Jiayue, 6- Liu Shanshan; 4- Lou Jiahui, 20- Zhang Rui, 16- Yang Lina, 17- Gu Yasha; 11- Wang Shanshan, 10- Li Ying. // Team lineups in Chinese & English
China and South Korea will play in the four nations final on Sunday (11:35 GMT) in Meizhou. The teams are close in the Fifa world rankings – Korea are 14th, and China 15th.
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=391507691424300 Yeah, the text coverage mentioned a few good chances. China XI: 22- Wang Shimeng; 4- Lou Jiahui, 8- Li Jiayue, 5- Wu Haiyan, 6- Liu Shanshan; 16- Yang Lina, 20- Zhang Rui; 10- Li Ying, 7- Wang Shuang, 17- Gu Yasha; 11- Wang Shanshan. (Subs used: 2- Wu Chengshu, 3- Huang Yini, 27- Yao Wei, 15- Xiao Yuyi, 18- Fang Jie and 21- Liu Huiting) Korea XI: 18- Kang Gaae; 20- Kim Hyeri, 6- Lim Seonjoo, 3- Jeong Yeonga, 2- Lee Eunmi; 8- Cho So-hyun; 26- Son Hwayeon, 7- Lee Min-a, 10- Ji Soyun, 17- Lee Geummin; 11- Jung Seolbin
Algarve Cup: The Chinese squad are in Spain preparing for the tournament in Portugal. Their opponents will be Norway (1 March) Denmark (4 March) followed by a final placement match. Last year, China finished only 11th of 12 teams, after losing to Portugal, Norway and Australia. (Facebook, 13 Feb 2019)
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=370313047027296 Last place China lost 3-1 to Norway and 1-0 to Denmark in the Algarve Cup. Finishing 3rd in the group, China took their placement game to penalties, against the European champions the Netherlands. (Highlights video / photo gallery, Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=439041210237212 The Wuhan International Tournament is another four-team invitational in China. The Russian team were Euro 2017 qualifiers (not WWC 2019), and China won by 3 in the end: China 4 - 1 Russia (Yang Li 14', Wang Shanshan 65' 77', Song Duan 75' - Nadezhda Smirnova 8') - http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-04/04/c_137950712.htm (Archive) China meets Cameroon on Sunday in the last game. A recent article had an interview with Wang Hongxia, who became a goalkeeper in 1981 and did well in Hunan Province. She missed the first China women's team, but not because of performance on the field - because of her height: Feature: How life can blossom after missing out on the Steel Roses - http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2019-03/08/content_74548417.htm (Archive)
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2118368634864811 The match report on Wild East Football says there were a lot of Cameroonian fans and Henan Jianye fans who were in Wuhan. Goalscorer Wang Shanshan is winning praise, while PSG's Wang Shuang said afterwards she wasn't at her best, and sounded a bit downbeat really. 19-Bi Xiaolin; 4-Lou Jiahui, 5-Wu Haiyan, 8-Li Jiayue, 6-Liu Shanshan; 7-Wang Shuang, 20-Zhang Rui, 27-Yao Wei, 17-Gu Yasha; 9-Yang Li, 11-Wang Shanshan 1-Ngo Ndom; 12-Claudine Meffometou, 11-Marie-Aurelle Awona, 2-Christine Manie, 4-Yvonne Leuko; 10-Jeannette Yango, 8-Raissa Feudjio, 20-Genevieve Ngo Mbeleck; 7-Gabrielle Onguéné, 3-Ajara Nchout, 18-Henriette Akaba 50 days until the World Cup starts, on 7 June (is that what the cartoon says..?)
Women's World Cup squad, announced: "NATIONAL TEAM | The official squad for FIFA Women's World Cup. #SteelRoses" Goalkeepers: 1-Xu Huan (Beijing), 12-Peng Shimeng (Jiangsu), 18-Bi Xiaolin (Dalian); Defenders: 2-Liu Shanshan (Beijing), 6-Han Peng (Guangdong), 14-Wang Ying (Wuhan), 8-Li Jiayue (Shanghai), 5-Wu Haiyan (Wuhan), 3-Lin Yuping (Wuhan), 22-Luo Guiping (Guangdong); Midfielders: 19-Tan Ruyin (Guangdong), 13-Wang Yan (Beijing), 16-Li Wen (Dalian), 20-Zhang Rui (Changchun), 21-Yao Wei (Wuhan), 4-Lou Jiahui (Henan), 7-Wang Shuang (Paris Saint Germain-FRA), 17-Gu Yasha (Beijing), 23-Liu Yanqiu (Wuhan); Forwards: 9-Yang Li (Jiangsu), 10-Li Ying (Guangdong), 11-Wang Shanshan (Dalian), 15-Song Duan (Dalian). - (CWFT, Facebook) China are placed in Group B, needing results against Germany, South Africa and Spain to advance to the last 16. What do they need to do against those 3 teams? - https://wildeastfootball.net/2019/05/can-chinas-women-outshine-the-men-once-more-world-cup-preview/ (Archived) China's Lou Jiahui against the U.S. in 2018 (Jamie Smed, cc-by)
The Steel Roses lost today to Italy, so are out of the WWC. My understanding is that only one member of their current team roster plays professionally outside of China. If that is correct, what is the state or level of play in the Chinese women's professional league(s), the top league being (I think) the Chinese Women's Super League? Not having watched them recently except for this match against Italy, it seems they were lacking initiative in the final 1/3, not taking good advantage of the opportunities they had. Might playing more overseas (Europe and/or USA) provide more opportunities for individual development for their players? Thanks for any response.
I put some info in these posts below - hope it helps. There isn't much coverage, and most reports are about the players from overseas who came to China. AFAIK it's around the level of an average European league at the moment: Chinese Women's Super League National leagues & cups 2018/19 ★ around the world - https://www.bigsoccer.com/posts/37021717/ Women's FA Cup 2019 National leagues & cups 2018/19 ★ around the world - https://www.bigsoccer.com/posts/37710426/ The FA is asking all the men's CSL clubs to be involved in the CWSL in 2020, which will help a bit: - https://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/news/women-s-game-receives-fresh-impetus-in-china (Archived)
Let's make it official Germany v China PR - FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ - www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj_58PTtMOc and some choice quotes from BigSoccer - https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/match-day-2-germany-v-china.2104271/ South Africa v China PR - FIFA WWC France 2019™ - youtu.be/vbVMukSfNVc - https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/matchday-7-b16-south-africa-china-pr.2104410/ China PR v Spain - FIFA WWC France 2019™ - youtu.be/pH4q6OXhZgU - https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/matchday-10-e28-china-pr-spain.2104482/ Round of 16: Italy v China PR - FIFA WWC France 2019™ - youtu.be/RV2l3a1cCO4 - https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/o43-c1-italy-china-b3.2104682/ So, the big question for China will be, how to improve? There's still so much potential there, but it's often going to waste. The next tournament is the EAFF Women's finals in Nov/Dec.
Somehow, most media missed this big story in May, just before the tournament: China undergo 'patriotic education' to win Women's World Cup https://www.france24.com/en/20190523-china-undergo-patriotic-education-win-womens-world-cup (Archived) The CFA building in Beijing (Photo: Max12Max, cc-by-sa) I would've said, "blind patriotism is no way to win"... but then, look at who actually won...