(China Daily/Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-20 09:09

Embattled Chinese women's coach Elisabeth Loisel has no time to feel relieved after her team's hard-fought victory over the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Monday. She still has plenty to prove in the ongoing East Asian Championship as the team faces Japan today and Asia's No 1 Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Saturday.

Photographers takes pictures of China's French coach Elisabeth Loisel (R) as she listens to the national Anthem before their round robin match against South Korea, in the East Asian Women's Football Championships, taking place in Chongqing, on February 18. [Agencies]

Dalian striker Han Duan scored twice as China squeaked past ROK in Monday's match. But China, playing with no apparent tactics and sloppy passing, fell to a 2-1 deficit in the second half and relied on Han's strong individual performance and a bit of luck to escape with the win.

Many have their doubts about the sluggish Chinese team and its chances of competing with an emerging team like Japan, which upset DPRK 3-2 earlier on Monday.

"There is no reason to celebrate such a victory," said former women's soccer star Sun Wen. "I did not see any improvement from this team. We had so many errors during the transition from defense to offense."

Amid questions about China's lack of teamwork and dependence on free kicks, Loisel shrugged.

"Luck is very important in a match. This is how football is played in every match," she insisted. "We did not do very well in the teamwork but our players showed very good form individually.

"We did a very good job on the free kicks. In modern football, a third of all goals are the results of free kicks. I think China will be able to do even better in the future."

There is also increasing concern over the team's defense under the new French coach, who took over in October last year after former coach Marika Domanski-Lyfors quit.

China scored two convincing wins over ROK during Marika's term, stirring doubts among media and fans about Loisel at the helm.

"This is a match in a major tournament. But last year's two ties were friendly matches," said the 44-year-old in her own defense. "You play with different pressure and rhythm, so I do not think it's right to compare this match to the past wins.

"We also lost to them before as ROK is a very strong team."

China bowed 2-0 to ROK in the inaugural women's sub-continental cup in 2005, but it was China's only loss to its neighbor in the past 20 years.

The Frenchwoman, who previously coached the French national team, is anxious to establish herself in her new post, having faced a torrent of criticism of her training methods and accusations of frequently arriving late for training.

Hotpot tensions

Tempers reached a boiling point recently after Loisel ordered players not to attend a hotpot dinner arranged by Chinese officials because of dietary concerns.

Chinese officials hit back, overruling the hotpot ban and issuing a public rebuke against her, ordering Loisel to keep out of off-pitch affairs.

The public rift dealt a blow to the team's preparation for the Beijing Olympics and forced Xie Yalong, vice-president of Chinese Football Association, to have a face-to-face discussion with the coach.

After the private talk, Loisel said she had the full backing of officials.

But Chinese media still predict her downfall if the team fails to impress at the East Asian Championship.

"I think we need to be more patient. There are six months to go before the Olympics," Loisel said.

"And I think we are going to get the team more training to improve their receiving and passing."

Loisel is tasked with guiding China to the semifinals at the Beijing Games in August, a tough job for a team that failed to make the last eight in the World Cup on home soil last September.

But the coach is still confident in her team's chances to reach its Olympic goal.

"Recently, there have been many negative reports from the media about the Chinese team's problems," she said.

"But, through this game, I think we displayed the progress we have made.

"Before the Olympics, we'll get everything done," Loisel said.

"Also, I think we need quiet and very good surroundings for our team. And please continue to give us your support. I am very confident with my goal."

She insisted she no longer has communication problem with players or officials and the whole team is unified.

"We fought very hard when we were 1-2 behind. We showed the determination and motivation. It proved we are a very good team.

"The whole coaching team and I are proud of them."

Loisel was also heavily criticized after a four-team tournament in southern Guangzhou last month in which China lost 1-0 to the US, beat Finland 2-0 and drew 0-0 with Canada.

Loisel said the team's chance of winning depends on who China meets.

"Among the top 15 teams in the FIFA rankings, any one of them can beat any one of them," she said. "It's very natural. And it's good thing that all teams can grow."

China is ranked 11th in the world with Germany the top team.