Marika Domanski-Lyfors is confronted with a herculean task as she has to outwit her opponents, Denmark and Brazil in particular, in her striving to lift understrength China to the top echelon of the upcoming Women's World Cup.
With a side who had a fiasco in the Algarve Cup tournament in March when it finished third from the bottom, the 47-year-old Swede was hoped by the Chinese FA bigwigs to guide the hosts to the final four of the World Cup.
She inherited from her predecessor Ma Liangxing who walked out following an acrimonious dispute with some FA officials, a team languishing deeply in self-doubt after a string of humiliating losses in the Algarve Cup tournament.
Domanski has to work some alchemy if she wants to transform the also-rans into world-beaters, according to former China head coach Shang Ruihua.
"One thing to her credit, she instilled confidence and cohesiveness into the team, but that's not enough," he said.
"They have fixed their target on the final four in the World Cup, this seems to be a long shot. They'd better take a realistic approach, and put it straight, they must first manage to qualify for the knockout stage from the group.
"So they have to seize three or four points from the group games against Denmark and Brazil, and this seems to be rather hard for them.
"I found their midfield can hardly operate effectively, this is a problem that Domanski cannot solve in a short time. Now let us see what magic she can work with the team," he said.
There is no established star in the Chinese side. Though they boast of a promising attacking duo up front in Han Duan and Ma Xiaoxu, a partnership yet to be proved as both tended to be less prodigious when playing together.
With a mediocre side at hand, Domanski, whose credentials have all the way been questioned by the local media since she arrived as the first ever foreign women's football coach in China, has to dig deep into her own wisdom with which she had miraculously guided Sweden to the 2003 World Cup final.
China will embark on this year's World Cup voyage on September 12 when they play their first group game against Denmark, a dangerous side who have the power to knock China off their track.
Denmark's backbone was formed by a vastly experienced trio of Katrine Pedersen, Eggers Nielsen and Meret Pederson.
Katrine Pedersen, who has racked up more than 120 caps since making her debut in 1994, is a steady influence at the back, with Nielsen pulling the strings in the middle and Meret Pedersen providing the firepower up front.
With more than 50 international goals to her credit, the 33-year old Meret Pedersen is out on her own as Denmark's top international scorer, finding the net 10 times in the qualifiers alone.
Kenneth Heiner-Moller, the Denmark head coach, started his coaching career in 2002 with the youth team at B93 Copenhagen, where he had spent four years as a player.
In 2005 he took over the women's team at Brondby and immediately guided them to victory in both the league and the Cup, before being taken on as national coach in July last year.
The 35-year-old Dane, who will be one of the youngest coaches at the finals in China, foresees a positive future for his side in the World Cup.
"Without question, we will be well prepared when the finals get underway. We have a good team that can hold its own against any opponent. So anything is possible in China," he was quoted by FIFA.com as saying.
If China can brush aside Denmark, then in their second group on September 15, they will meet formidable Brazil, a star-studded side whose ambition is as high as sky.
The talisman of Brazil is their No. 10 Marta, the 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year who played a pivotal role in helping her team to win the Pan American Games football title in July.
Marta's magic was nothing new, nor was the ruthless efficiency of Cristiane, her principal ally up front and the tournament's second leading markswoman on eight. But there were several new sources of encouragement for the Auriverde at the Games, like the remarkable progress of Daniela Alves, or the precision of Rosana from dead-ball situations.
While Brazil's attack remains their most potent weapon, taking gold at the Pan American Games without once conceding a goal proves their defence is fast improving.
"It wasn't something we really expected before the Games, but I'm thrilled nonetheless. It's an indication that we're doing well at the back and not just up front," the team's goalkeeper Andreia said.
Their coach Jorge Barcellos, 39, once a player himself whose highlight of his brief career being a two-year spell in Japanese amateur football between 1993 and 1994, has every reason to be upbeat about their journey to Asia.
"My sights are now set on taking these girls to the very top of world football over in China," he said.
China's last group opponents are New Zealand who are to make their second outing in the World Cup stage after their debut in the 1991 inaugural version.
While the average age of the New Zealand squad was 23, their backbone is provided by a clutch of experienced players including defenders Maia Jackman and Rebecca Smith and 35-year-old striker, Wendi Henderson.
Their coach, John Herdman, an Englishman, started his career as a youth coach with Sunderland Football Club before moving to New Zealand in 2003.
The Kiwis, who are considered to be a pushover in the group, are prepared to ambush their rivals with some "credible performances".
"We are hoping that with some credible performances on the world stage, our senior side can lead the game in New Zealand into a new era," Herdman said.
Source: Xinhua
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