Focus on CHINA

Kuala Lumpur: The most successful team in AFC Women’s Asian Cup history, China PR dominated the tournament from their first appearance in 1986, winning an unprecedented seven consecutive titles.

Head coach: Sigurdur Eyjólfsson (JPN)

Current FIFA ranking: 13
 
AFC Women’s Asian Cup appearances: 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014

Best finish: Champions (1986, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2006)

Inspired by the brilliant Ma Xiaoxu, they added an eighth in 2006, but generational improvements by the likes of Japan, Australia and DPR Korea have ended the world’s most populous nation's dominance of Asian women’s football.
 
Despite going 11 years without a senior continental title, a drought by Chinese standards, the Steel Roses remain one of Asia’s most formidable sides, reching the quarter-finals at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

They also retain the enviable record of having never finished outside the top four in any AFC Women’s Asian Cup they have competed in.

While China didn’t need to qualify for next April’s finals by virtue of their third place finish in Vietnam four years ago, they have prepared extensively, with their 19 matches in 2017 the most of any team in the draw, although results have been mixed.

Successes against 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup sides Mexico and Thailand, and a 2-2 draw with World No. 9 Brazil show China’s potential, but a winless Algarve Cup campaign and dual home losses to DPR Korea, who failed to qualify for Jordan 2018, indicate there is room for improvement.

After two years under Frenchman Bruno Bini, China appointed Iceland’s Siggi Eyjólfsson as their new head coach in November, with legendary former player Sun Wen taking a role as assistant coach.
 

Key player: Wang Shanshan

Once known as a defender, Wang Shanshan has evolved into a lethal striker, and enjoyed a productive 2017 in front of goal for the national team.
 
After finding the net against Australia at the Algarve Cup in March, she went on a superb scoring run which included seven goals in the next nine Steel Roses matches, culminating with a five-minute brace in the 2-2 draw against Brazil in October.
 
The 27-year-old has benefited from a fruitful goal-scoring partnership with gifted attacking midfielder Wang Shuang, who has scored five goals of her own in 2017, in addition to winning the Chinese Women’s Super League title with Dalian Quanjian.

Qualifying stage

China PR qualified automatically by finishing third at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Vietnam 2014.
 
China PR - A’ internationals in 2017
 
Opponents Result Competition Venue Date
Thailand 2-0 Four Nations Tournament Foshan, China 19/01/2017
Myanmar 2-0 Four Nations Tournament Foshan, China 21/01/2017
Ukraine 5-0 Four Nations Tournament Foshan, China 24/01/2017
Netherlands 0-1 Algarve Cup Lagos, Portugal 02/03/2017
Sweden 0-0 Algarve Cup VRSA, Portugal 04/03/2017
Australia 1-2 Algarve Cup Albufeira, Portugal 07/03/2017
Iceland 1-2 Algarve Cup Parchal, Portugal 09/03/2017
Croatia 2-0 Friendly Kunshan, China 06/04/2017
Croatia 2-1 Friendly Jiaxing, China 09/04/2017
DPR Korea 0-1 Friendly Duyun, China 08/06/2017
Finland 4-2 Friendly Changzhou, China 11/06/2017
DPR Korea 1-2 Yongchuan Tournament Chongqing, China 19/10/2017
Mexico 3-2 Yongchuan Tournament Chongqing, China 21/10/2017
Brazil 2-2 Yongchuan Tournament Chongqing, China 24/10/2017
Australia 0-3 Friendly Melbourne, Australia 22/11/2017
Australia 1-5 Friendly Geelong, Australia 26/11/2017