Cheers for Asia's best ever show
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
COACHES and players hailed the growth of Asian women's football after the region's best ever World Cup performance.
Although no Asian teams reached the semi-finals, China, Australia and North Korea all made the last eight, making it the region's most successful showing yet. Australia coach Tom Sermanni, whose team battled to a 3-2 defeat against highly-rated Brazil, said Asian football was close to making a "breakthrough".
Former champions Norway edged out hosts China 1-0 while North Korea were knocked out by reigning title-holders Germany over the weekend.
China reached the final in 1999 but were beaten on penalties by the United States. The Steel Roses, who also hosted the inaugural World Cup in 1991, have now made the quarter-finals in all five tournaments.
Brazil coach Jorge Barcellos said pressure on the home team, who often looked burdened by the expectations of 1.3 billion people, may have proved too much to bear.
Only Japan failed to reach the quarter-finals with Oceania's New Zealand also limping out at the group stage.
The performance contrasts with the regional showing at last year's men's World Cup where only Australia, newly inducted into the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), reached the knock-out phase.
And with North Korea beating China in last year's under-20 World Cup final, where Chinese striker Ma Xiaoxu was player of the tournament, the omens look good for Asia's women. "All the Asian teams performed very well at this tournament," said Brazil's Daniela, player of the match against Australia. "Even though China were knocked out at this stage I think they played very well. All the teams playing in the World Cup are the best teams in the world."
Sermanni said women's football was improving worldwide with little to choose between the top eight teams.
"It's such a narrow gap now at the top of women's football. These games and tournaments are becoming very close."
According to AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam, women's football has grown significantly in Asia since the 1991 World Cup in southern China.
China was also due to host the 2003 World Cup but the tournament was moved to the United States after the deadly SARS outbreak.AFP
Although no Asian teams reached the semi-finals, China, Australia and North Korea all made the last eight, making it the region's most successful showing yet. Australia coach Tom Sermanni, whose team battled to a 3-2 defeat against highly-rated Brazil, said Asian football was close to making a "breakthrough".
Former champions Norway edged out hosts China 1-0 while North Korea were knocked out by reigning title-holders Germany over the weekend.
China reached the final in 1999 but were beaten on penalties by the United States. The Steel Roses, who also hosted the inaugural World Cup in 1991, have now made the quarter-finals in all five tournaments.
Brazil coach Jorge Barcellos said pressure on the home team, who often looked burdened by the expectations of 1.3 billion people, may have proved too much to bear.
Only Japan failed to reach the quarter-finals with Oceania's New Zealand also limping out at the group stage.
The performance contrasts with the regional showing at last year's men's World Cup where only Australia, newly inducted into the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), reached the knock-out phase.
And with North Korea beating China in last year's under-20 World Cup final, where Chinese striker Ma Xiaoxu was player of the tournament, the omens look good for Asia's women. "All the Asian teams performed very well at this tournament," said Brazil's Daniela, player of the match against Australia. "Even though China were knocked out at this stage I think they played very well. All the teams playing in the World Cup are the best teams in the world."
Sermanni said women's football was improving worldwide with little to choose between the top eight teams.
"It's such a narrow gap now at the top of women's football. These games and tournaments are becoming very close."
According to AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam, women's football has grown significantly in Asia since the 1991 World Cup in southern China.
China was also due to host the 2003 World Cup but the tournament was moved to the United States after the deadly SARS outbreak.AFP
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