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Sports / Soccer

New Zealand coach wishes China 'good luck'

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-21 17:04

TIANJIN -- New Zealand coach John Herman hoped on Thursday that China
would go further in the Women's World Cup.

New Zealand's Priscilla Duncan (18) reacts after losing to China during
their Group D soccer match at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in Tianjin
September 20, 2007. New Zealand failed to advance with a 2-0 lose to
China.? [Reuters]

Herman's side were defeated 2-0 by the hosts in their final group match
and eliminated from the World Cup. But Herman wished China "good luck" in
the knockout stage.

"It is a fantastic game for both sides," he said. "Our players played a
wonderful match. Chinese players' spirit and hearts helped them come
through the match. I think their drive and passion will make them go
further than people expected."

He added, "We don't have star players like Han Duan or Ma Xiaoxu. Many
players in our team are just 16 or 17 years old. But we will develop soon
and you will see us in next year's Olympics and it will be quite possible
for us to look for a tie or even a win against China."

New Zealand captain Rebecca Smith thought the quarter-final between China
and Norway would be a tough game.

"Anything will happen," she said. "But China got support from their fans
and it will put pressure on Norway."

New Zealand lost all three group matches in the World Cup and had no goal
while their goalkeeper picked up the ball nine times from their own net.
This was also their seventh consecutive loss to China.

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