China coach Ma prays for Sun to be fit for Australia game

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, September 25, 2003

China coach Ma prays for Sun to be fit for Australia game

When asked by a Chinese journalist whether he prays before a big match, China women's soccer team head coach Ma Liangxing said: "That's a private question."

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When asked by a Chinese journalist whether he prays before a big match, China women's soccer team head coach Ma Liangxing said: "That's a private question."

But if he really prays this time, he must be praying for captain Sun Wen to be fit.

Without Sun, China would not dream of qualifying from the Group D, let alone claiming their first World Cup title after three failed attempts.

The 30-year-old, Golden Boot Award winner in the last World Cup, is really in a class of her own and her absence will surely cost China's second group match against Australia, which is to be held at the Home Depot Center in Carson on Thursday.

"Sun Wen is a player to be relied on. She is special," said Kevin McCormack, Australia's assistant coach. "And we know she is injured."

Sun's chronic right knee injury hurts again after their Group Dopener against Ghana on Sunday, when she scored the lone goal for the win. And she was seen to have her knee heavily bandaged with ice in training on Monday and she also sat out Tuesday's training.

Fortunately, Sun vowed that she could cope with the injury and would be fit to wear the captain's armband on Thursday.

"I feel OK now. It will not affect Thursday's play," Sun said.

Ma has had his fingers crossed after midfielder Pan Lina was stretched off during their winning match against Ghana last Sunday. Since Sun is available -- at least for the Australia match, Ma hasenough reasons to be relieved.

Ma was even all smiles when telling reporters that he was confident that Sun will play as well as she did in the Ghana game.

That prompted Ma to claim that he is confident, nearly 100 per cent, that China can beat Australia.

"Defeat? It never crosses my mind. I only want to win." Ma said after a afternoon training on Tuesday.

"I watched Australia's defeat to Russia last Sunday and found they had changed little," Ma said.

Ma's view was echoed by Sun. "We knew enough from the two friendlies in August. We won 2-0 on both occasions. I don't think they can change enough during such a short time."

But for Australia coach McCormack, he thought that his team have a "fifty-fifty" chance to beat China.

"Our confidence is best," McCormack said. "We don't think it's easy but we will go to the game considering a win.

"We can cause any team problems, including the United States and China. That will be a close game, we think we can win."

He added that the Australian coaching staff had watched China'smatch with Ghana and felt relieved that China's performance was not what they had expected.

"We will exploit any weakness China expose in Thursday's game,"he said.

China really has weaknesses, and the most vulnerable one is Sun's ailing knee.

And that's perhaps the reason that Ma is praying for. And he really should pray for.

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