Fifa Women’s World Cup: China’s Shui Qingxia plotting route back to top of global game for Steel Roses
- China take on Denmark in their opening game in Group D in Perth, looking to return to the final of tournament for the first time since 1999
- The Steel Roses have never failed to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup when they qualify
Shui Qingxia has set her sights on taking China back to the top of global football as her team prepares to launch their Women’s World Cup challenge against Denmark in Perth on Saturday, more than 24 years after the country’s only appearance in the tournament’s final.
The Chinese lost in a penalty shoot-out at Pasenda Rose Bowl to hosts the United States in 1999 in an era when the nation dominated the game within Asia and battled the Americans for global supremacy.
Those days have long since gone but Shui, a silver medal-winning midfielder at the 1996 Olympics during her playing days, is hoping this year’s competition can be the latest step on the steep climb back to the top.
“We’ll treat this World Cup as a tournament to reposition China’s women’s team,” Shui said. “I want this to be a fresh start for our team to find their positions, including this generation and future generations.
“I hope that we can play better and better in the future and to give our best performance in this tournament. Everything has a start and I wish this could be a fresh start for us.”
The Steel Roses come into the competition as the Women’s Asia Cup champions after a surprising win over South Korea in a final that came just three months after Shui’s appointment.
