China relaxed ahead of cup kick off
Updated: 2007-09-12 11:01
Heiner-Moller stressed the pressure on the host increased his team's winning opportunity.
"China is playing at home, so there is definitely going to be a lot of pressure on them," he predicted.
"We've spent a long time preparing for the World Cup, especially once we made certain of qualification. We're all raring to go now. Even though the environment, food and climate in China are quite different to Denmark, we've already got used to it in the last two days and we'll definitely be at the top of our game when we face China."
China will look to veteran players in the opening fixture rather than new comers after the head coach underlined the determination of seasoned campaigners Zhang Ouying, Han Wenxia and Xie Caixia during the team's warm ups against England (1-0) and Hungary (4-0).
"This showed that Marika is counting on the veterans to play the World Cup," defender Liu Yali said.
"We are a young team, we need the veterans and their experience is our prized asset. "Without the veterans to anchor the team, the young players tend to make easy mistakes which could ruin our whole campaign."
But much of 11th-ranked China's prospects will hinge on 19-year-old striker Ma Xiaoxu - dubbed the "female Wayne Rooney" - and her partner Han Duan in the frontline.
"We're feeling great right now, although there's a lot of pressure on us to go out and win," Han said.
"At this point I'm not really thinking about how many goals I can score. I'm just aiming to give my all out on the pitch and help my teammates to win football matches."
Another motivational factor for the national players, who have been struggling for financial support in domestic league and development, is the prize money FIFA has dangled.
A surprising total of $6.4 million has been put on the table, $1 million for the winning team and $800,000 for the runners-up.
Even if China only advances to the quarterfinals, it will receive $350,000, a handsome reward for the small-spending squad.
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