China

Chinese coach Domanski not afraid of pressure

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-07-05 08:23

SHENYANG, Northeast China - Swede Marika Domanski-Lyfors, head coach of China's national women's soccer team, told press here Wednesday that she's not afraid of the pressure playing the upcoming World Cup and Olympic Games on Chinese soil.

Marika Domanski, the head coach of the Chinese women soccer team talks to journalists after the team arrived Shenyang of Northeast China, for the "Good Luck Beijing" friendly game July 2, 2007. [Xinhua]

"First of all, I'm very proud to be the head coach of Chinese team, and I also like the pressure," said the 47-year-old, who took over the Chinese team two months ago and signed a contract till 2008 with the Chinese Football Association (CFA) in April.

Under her reign, the home side beat Mexico 1-0 here Wednesday after Sunday's 4-0 victory over Thailand to keep on top of the table at the 2007 International Women's Soccer Invitational Tournament on July 1-10 co-hosted by Shenyang and Qinhuangdao, both having venues to hold matches of the Beijing Olympic Games soccer tournament.

As a warming-up event for September's World Cup in five cities of China, the four-nation tourney has been expected to boost confidence of the Chinese side, who had suffered a tough time in the last decade with disappointing results from both World Cups and Olympics.

But Domanski is not depressed either at the ongoing event or toward the coming World Cup and Olympics.

"I have been involved in every World Cup since 1991, and also the Olympics. I think I can handle the pressure and for the team, I have the confidence that they can handle it," said Domanski at a post-match press conference after Wednesday's 1-0 win over Mexico.

Domanski, former head coach of Sweden who had led the European side to the 2003 World Cup final where they lost to Germany and stepped down in 2005 after nine years in charge, had made it public that she aimed to lead the former world runners-up to at least a semifinal finish in the World Cup on 10-30 September before trying her luck at the 2008 Olympic Games.

The Swede got respects from her counterpart as Cuellar Rivera Leonardo, head coach of the Mexican team, sang praise to the hosts as well as their coach Domanski.

"China have some young players and they all made progress very rapidly. I respect my counterpart of the Chinese side, she's really successful in leading her team to play good soccer and practice soccer," he said.

Again on Wednesday, Domanski repeated that the coaching staff were still testing squad, though there's doubting voice and she has been given the deadline of the end of this month to announce her 18-strong roster.

"I've tested different squad in last three matches (including the friendly against the United States in America last month), because we may need more than 11 players to play the upcoming World Cup. If I used the same 11, there were more chances for the players to get injured and I think that's dangerous," she said.

Commenting on the evening's game, Domanski said: "I think this is a very good game both technically and tactically. We knew it would be a tough game, since we played Mexico before and they are really very strong. And the game went on almost this way."

China, with six points from two games, will play their last match against Italy Saturday back to Qinhuangdao before a top two finish on standings may give them a place in Tuesday's final of the four-nation event.

Italy now follow China on the table with four points after drawing 2-2 with Mexico on Sunday and beating Thailand 5-0 Wednesday.