China coach Ma predicts hard game against Australia

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, September 24, 2003

China coach Ma predicts hard game against Australia

China head coach Ma Liangxing said that his Steel Roses will meet fierce challenge from Australia in their Women's World Cup Group D game Thursday in Los Angeles.

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China head coach Ma Liangxing said that his Steel Roses will meet fierce challenge from Australia in their Women's World Cup Group D game Thursday in Los Angeles.

"It must be a tough game. Everybody in the squad knows that," Ma said after an afternoon training outside the Home Depot Center in Carson on Tuesday.

China, who beat Australia 2-0 twice at home in August, have no reason to be complacent because the two matches were just "friendlies," Ma said.

"Friendlies are always friendlies, no one will take them seriously," the China boss added. "And I also said for many times that China are not what they were four years ago. It has been proved in yesterday's game against Ghana. We cannot belittle any other team."

Ma said that he watched the video of the Australia vs Russia game twice and found they are a difficult side to beat.

"They are exceptionally good in defense, and we must be very careful."

But Ma vowed that the Chinese women will fight to the last gasp to qualify from the group. "Of course we are confident. If we play our best, we can beat all the rivals."

Ma said China's biggest problem exposed in Monday's game was that the strikers and midfielders were dispossessed too often, which harmed the team's morale.

"There were no problems for the women yesterday physically or tactically. But they must control the ball first in Thursday's game," Ma said.

The China coach said that he is considering whether the versatile Bai Jie will play alongside captain Sun Wen up front in the next match. "It is really an option but we have not made the final decision," he said.

Bai, who played as a left-back in the first half on Monday, was moved up front after the break and made the crucial cross for Sun's winning goal.

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