? ?
Sports / Soccer
Soccer players' fate delayed by storm
By Chen Xiangfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-09-19 11:05
Host China will have to wait one more day to see if it will qualify for
the quarterfinals of FIFA Women's World Cup after a typhoon caused the
postponement of a Group D match in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.
Sweden's Victoria Svensson (R) and North Korea's Kong Hye Ok (16) fight
for the ball during their Group B soccer match at the 2007 FIFA Women's
World Cup in Tianjin September 18, 2007. DPR Korea finished second in the
group despite losing to Sweden 2-1. [Reuters]
China takes on New Zealand on Wednesday in Tianjin but the other group
tie between Brazil and Denmark, which should have taken place at the same
time, will now be played?Thursday after the local organizing committee,
Chinese authorities governing body FIFA rescheduled the storm-plagued
fixture Tuesday.
The match also scheduled for Wednesday between Norway and Ghana was also
changed and will now be played Thursday in Hangzhou rather than in
Shanghai, as originally planned.
Even if China beats an unfancied Kiwi side, its life will still hang in
the balance until the final whistle of Denmark's match.
Brazil is as good as through with a huge for-and-against differential
while China and Denmark are closely matched for the remaining
quarterfinal spot.
Even New Zealand still has a slim hope but would virtually need a miracle.
For China to qualify, it has to either better Denmark's result or, in the
event both sides win, achieve a victory margin five goals greater than
the Danes'.
But the Steel Roses remain confident because history is heavily in their
favor.
China has dominated New Zealand in the past, winning all six encounters,
and no host team in World Cup history has suffered the ignominy of a
group-stage exit.
Speculation abounds that starting goalkeeper in the first two matches Han
Wenxia will be replaced after a string of mistakes.
Teenage goalkeeper Zhang Yanru, heroine of China's runner-up finish at
last year's U-20 Women's World Championship, will reportedly take over.
But coach Marika Domanski-Lyfors is keeping her selection cards close.
"You will see who will be on the court by tomorrow. I only send the best
players to play," she told Xinhua News Agency yesterday.
Domanski-Lyfors also noted that the other group match was out of China's
control and that it only had to focus on today's match.
"I can only try my best to win tomorrow's match - the other match is out
of my control and all I can do is to win," she said.
Related Stories ?
East China braces for typhoon Wipha
===========================================================================
Mass evacuation in E. China as Wipha nears
===========================================================================
2m evacuated as Typhoon Wipha nears
===========================================================================
Wipha causes rainfalls in Zhejiang
===========================================================================
Typhoon Wipha forces rescheduling to two women's World Cup matches
===========================================================================
Top Sports News ?
* Brazil break duck with Robinho hat-trick
* China coach tries to save job in Asian Cup
* NFL hopes its game doesn't get lost in translation in China
* Late starters face uphill task in China
* LA Galaxy to present Beckham on July 13
Today's Top News ?
* China beats N. Zealand 2-0 to advance to quarters
* Tycoon buys looted treasure for nation
* Inflation, wages top concerns
* Over $1B needed to make Forbes list
* Wipha heads north, hitting East China
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Learning Chinese, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment