China boss Ma keeps lips tight on starting lineup

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, September 19, 2003

China boss Ma keeps lips tight on starting lineup

Chinese fans might think they have known who will play in the Women's World Cup, but head coach Ma Liangxing said he hasn't.

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Chinese fans might think they have known who will play in the Women's World Cup, but head coach Ma Liangxing said he hasn't.

With China's World Cup Group opener against Ghana only three days away, Ma said his starting lineup for the match on Sunday remains undecided.

China, who are in Carson, Los Angeles, for their last preparation for their Group D game, intensified their training on setpieces -- especially penalty kick -- reminding people of their heartbreaking loss to the United States in the last World Cup four years ago in the charge of former coach Ma Yuan'an.

Yuan'an, an advisor of the squad, was also in the training ground and expected that his presence can bring the Steel Roses more confidence, which evidently has been shaken after a string of slumping performances in the 2000 Olympics, the 2002 Asian Games and the Asian Championships earlier this year.

"I have not decided which players should start in the opening match," Ma said. "That's because I know little about Ghana. Maybe I can think of a good lineup after watching the video tapes of their matches."

In fact, the two Mas must have decided most of their starters for the match -- specifically nine or ten, but are still not sure about one or two positions.

The most difficult decision to make is about Bai Jie, whose versatility has made a rift between the two Mas and therefore became a thorn in Ma Liangxing's side.

The 31-year-old Bai, a left-back in Yuan'an runner-up finishing squad four years ago, was moved upfront by Liangxiang after he took over as the national coach. Her pace and dazzling dribbling helped China produce a dream striking partnership with captain SunWen on one hand but left their defense too much exposed on the other.

Yuan'an insisted that Bai should move back to her old position.If so, Sun will play upfront with first World Cup timer Han Duan. And obviously that will be also a little risky since Han is only 20 years old.

Ghana was also training in a pitch next to China's on Thursday,the two Mas constantly turned their eyes to the Africans but later they conceded: "Their training can tell you almost nothing."

Ma Liangxing said: "They are physically strong and have very good skills. We have got some video tapes of their matches and hopefully our coaching staff can find something useful from them."

China, who crushed Ghana 7-0 in the last World Cup, should have no complacence when meeting them in Carson's Home Depot Center, Mawarned.

"That victory does not mean anything," he said. "Four years is a long time and a lot of things have changed. You cannot simply say that we are stronger than them."

But the China coach admitted China are confident of beating every rival in their way to the trophy.

"We are not afraid of any team and we also do not have any pressure," Ma vowed.

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