China to Play US at Women's Soccer Friendly

The United States women's national soccer team will bound for China to play two friendly matches with the Chinese counterparts in January, local reports said on Saturday, December 30.

It will be their first meet since the Sydney Olympics where China drew with the United States 1-1. China was eventually eliminated in a 1-2 loss to Norway, which upset the United States for the Olympic title.

Though seven Olympic regulars remain in the line-up, China will field a team mostly composed of players under the age of 24.

"The most important task is to give the young players more exposure to international competitions and make them mature as fast as possible," Chinese head coach Ma Yuan'an was quoted as saying by Saturday's Sports Daily newspaper.

He said that though the newly-constructed team is not strong as ever, players are all looking forward to the matches which will be held in January 11 and 14.

"It is the first competition of the new national team. They are all very active in training and hope to score a good start for the new century," Ma said.

He added that comparatively speaking, those players capped for the first time are better than ever in physical stamina, speed and body build.

"What they need is to work together for more time and need some exposure to competitions,"Ma said.

While the Chinese are gearing up for the matches, the United States also attach much importance to the mid-January tour.

Seven Olympians including Tiffeny Milbrett, Christie Pearce, Kate Sobrero, Siri Mullinix, Michelle French, Lorrie Fair and Nikki Serlenga, will give the national team experience in international play, said head coach April Heinrichs.

Also enrolled to the 18-member national team are five collegiate players and six players who were high picks in the recent Women's United Soccer Association player draft.

While the veteran players are all under the age of 24 except Milbrett, midfielder Aleisha Cramer, who just finished her freshman season at Brigham Young University, is the third youngest player ever to make the national team in 1998 when she was 16 years old.

The US team will depart for China on January 7.






People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/