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Sports / Soccer
Host's hopes up in the air at World Cup
By Chen Xiangfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-09-17 09:33
"They are ranked higher than China and they have better individuals than
China. They not only have Marta, they have many small "Martas".
After another goalless performance from China's attacking combination Ma
Xiaoxu and Han Duan, the Swedish coach said she longed for her own Marta.
"I am sure Ma will improve a lot, but Marta is exceptional and the best
player in the world.
"Marta not only has good technique, she also has the ability to change
speed. I hope China will have someone like Marta."
Despite China's fate now lying in the lap of the gods, Domanski-Lyfors
remains upbeat.
"To lose the match to the best team is not the end of the world," she
said.
"We will try to win the third match and two wins in a group competition
will give a bigger chance to advance.
"It is a tough way to make it into semis but we still have the
confidence."
Despite an even taller order in front of him, New Zealand's coach says
his side will advance along with the Brazilians.
"Brazil and New Zealand will be the two teams to qualify into the next
round," John Herdman declared.
"We still have a chance.
"If we defeat China and Brazil defeat Denmark in the last round of the
group match, we have a chance.
"China has the quality and they showed the quality during the match
against Denmark. But we will cause problems for China in the next match.
"We will have more research of what the Chinese are doing and how they do
it.
"It's gonna be a tough game."
Moller sanctioned
Danish head coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller was suspended on Saturday by
FIFA's Disciplinary Committee for unsporting behavior towards a match
official at the end of the China-Denmark fixture on September 12.
He was initially banned for four matches but under article 33 of FIFA's
Disciplinary Code, Heiner-Moller must serve just two matches, Saturday's
2-0 win against New Zealand and the final group match against Brazil.
"I think I cannot recall the situation that FIFA referred to," Moller
said after his side's victory on Saturday.
"I am sad, but right now I will not think too much of the sanction. I am
just happy we win the match.
Moller and his team have been in the spotlight for poor behavior toward
the Chinese coach and match official, as well as allegations they made
that a "spy" had secretly recorded one of the Danes' closed-door training
sessions.
Team officials told police that one of their "tactical" meetings in Wuhan
Hotel was secretly taped and an investigation began on Thursday.
"We have reached the Danish FA," spokeswoman Pia Schou Nielson said.
"Because the tournament is still running, but after that we will go to
FIFA."
"We have already spoken with the administration at home and we will try
to get in touch because we are very stressed.
"We will also try to talk to the police and hopefully we will get
answers."
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