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China captain Wang Shanshan is adamant that the Asian champions will deal well with the extra pressure at a global showpiece as the first Women's World Cup to feature 32 teams finally gets under way on Thursday.
It will be a highly challenging tournament for China, who have been drawn in Group D with European giants England, Denmark and Haiti.
"England are the reigning European champions and their overall strength is far superior to ours," said Wang. "Denmark are also a force to be reckoned with in Europe, while the Haiti boast a remarkable individual skill set. So, obviously, the group stage won't be a cakewalk for us."
Compared to the 24-team event held in France four years ago, the month-long tournament has expanded and is now being held in two different countries for the first time, with games scheduled to take place in nine cities across Australia and New Zealand.
According to world football's governing body FIFA, it is on course to be the most-watched Women's World Cup, with more than 1.3 million tickets bought in advance for the 64 matches.
"The World Cup is the pinnacle of every player's aspirations," Wang added."While we are up against a slew of highly skilled teams, the more challenging and formidable the matches, the more it will galvanize our team's resolve to rise to the occasion and perform at our absolute best.
"As evidenced by the European Championship last year, women's football is increasingly resembling that of the men's game, with a focus on physicality, speed, and sprinting.
"Since we haven't encountered many teams of this caliber, it's understandable that we'll feel some pressure. However, the more pressure we face, the more we'll relish the opportunity to compete against them and gauge our level. After all, the unpredictability of football is what makes it so captivating."
In 2022, China won their first title in 16 years by defeating South Korea in the Asian Cup final. Wang, who scored five goals, played a pivotal role in this breakthrough, and her sensational performance has earned her the coveted Most Valuable Player of the tournament award.
As she embarks on her third World Cup, Wang is aware that she will shoulder more responsibilities and expectations compared to her first appearance in 2015 when she was still finding her footing.
"As the captain, it's my responsibility to lead by example," said Wang. "I must set the tone for the team, and only by performing to the best of my abilities can I inspire my teammates to do the same.
"I hope that this World Cup will showcase our level of skill and ability, and inspire more people to appreciate the spirit of Chinese women's football."
(CGTN)
