Hoping for Their Day in the Sun
Their habitual smiles say what the Chinese players’ halting English can’t adequately express about their pride at advancing to the final of the Women’s World Cup. But what speaks most eloquently for them is their game: a blend of athleticism, excellent technique, purposeful running, diligent defensive play and a dash or two of offensive brilliance.
And if that sounds a lot like a description of the U.S. team, which will play China in Saturday’s final at the Rose Bowl, that’s no surprise. Although separated by political and cultural divides, they are alike in many ways--and so close in skill and polish that neither can claim a decisive edge in any single area Saturday.
“The U.S. is almost the same like the China team, short passes and good team play,” said forward Sun Wen, whose seven goals tie her with Brazil’s Sissi for the tournament lead. “It will be a wonderful game between the U.S. and China.”
U.S. Coach Tony DiCicco also sees similarities.
“There’s a large genetic pool to choose from, neither team has a tremendous league to choose from . . . and we were training partners in 1991,” DiCicco said Thursday, before his team yielded the Pomona-Pitzer College field for China’s closed workout. “When they went out in the quarterfinals, the U.S. took a big sigh of relief. We have a lot of respect for the Chinese team. We think they’re a credit to women’s soccer and we applaud their development.
“At the same time, we also hope we win the game.”
China has traveled a long road to Pasadena--literally and figuratively.
The team has racked up more than 12,000 miles in defeating Sweden at San Jose, Ghana at Portland, Ore., Australia at New Jersey, Russia in the quarterfinals at San Jose and defending champion Norway at Foxboro, Mass. The U.S. team, by contrast, has traveled about 5,500 miles and journeyed cross-country once.
China’s Coach Ma Yuanan put his players on West Coast time early in the tournament, altering their sleep patterns and meals so their body clocks wouldn’t be off when they got here.
“If you worry about those things, it can affect you,” he said. “We want to be psychologically ready to play.”
Then, too, there is the distance they have traveled to win their compatriots’ respect and support to play the game they love.
Women’s soccer is still in its early stages in China, its growth slowed by traditions that limit women’s athletic opportunities.
Sun, 26, was lucky. When she was a child in Shanghai, her father often took her to soccer games. Her older sister liked basketball, but 10-year-old Sun immediately took to soccer, practicing with boys and refining her skills on her own until she was admitted to the Shanghai Sports School at 13. She almost quit in 1990, but her coach talked her into persevering--and not long after, she was chosen to play for the Shanghai women’s team and the national team.
“Most fathers in China cannot accept girls playing soccer,” she said through a translator earlier this week. “It’s the culture. Girls are supposed to be shy and steady and not so active.
“My father [Sun Zhong Gao] was a real soccer fan, a former player, and he encouraged me to play. My father is very proud now.”
As well he should be. His daughter, though only 5 feet 4, is a dominant figure on a dominant team that has scored 19 goals and given up two. The U.S., which holds an 11-5-5 series lead over China but has lost two of their last three encounters, has scored 17 goals and given up three.
“She’s just so good in every aspect of the game,” U.S. defender Kate Sobrero said of Sun. “She’s unselfish and she can get to any ball. She’s a complete forward.”
A student in Shanghai, Sun likes to sing pop songs--in English--and has had her poetry published. But it’s her on-field artistry that worries DiCicco.
“If I knew the best way to stop her, I’d definitely use it,” said DiCicco, who may have Sobrero or Joy Fawcett on Sun. “We’ve got to make it harder for her to play and when she gets the ball, make it tougher for her to pass. She’s an outstanding dribbler so it’s going to be tough to get the ball from her. We want to make sure she doesn’t get good looks at the goal.”
Even if that strategy succeeds, China has other scoring threats. With speed on the wings and a system in which midfielders overlap and push forward offensively while forwards take their defensive responsibilities, China is dangerous all over the field. Midfielders Liu Ailing, who scored twice in China’s 5-0 semifinal rout of Norway, and Jin Yang, who has three goals, provide energy and creativity.
“Their key is their organization,” U.S. forward Tiffeny Milbrett said. “They’re very organized, especially in the midfield, and from that, it helps them generate their attacking style. They’re always supporting each other and they play quickly, and can always look long.”
Assistant coach Yang Zhongjian says his team did not play at its best against Norway but is well prepared for the final.
“The American team is very strong, but this team also has qualities to win the game,” he said.
Said Sun, “It is very, very important that we win, for ourselves and for China.”
