China’s Exit Can Affect Attendance
The 2007 Women's World Cup risks having a dip in attendance if hosts, China, lose out of the competition, and so organisers are praying that the Chinese will win today to keep their quest for their first title on track.
All four stadia in Shanghai, Chengdu, Hangzhou and Wuhan have recorded very good patronage with over 80 per cent attendance, but that can fall sharply if China are eliminated from the competition at the group stage.
Last Saturday, they faltered in the competition when they lost 0-4 to Brazil in their group match, and with the last matches being played tomorrow, and with Denmark having an equal chance of qualifying, the Chinese will have to sit up if they want to avoid a repeat of what happened in 1991 when they first hosted the WWC.
In that competition, they were unable to go past the quarter-finals, and following the heavy loss to Brazil, organisers are hoping that they make amends in their final group game tomorrow to keep the competition going in terms of attendance and support.
When the Chinese hosted the maiden event, they failed to make it to the last four but finished fourth in 1995 and went on to place second in 1999.
They again lost out in 2003, but with the tournament returning to its origins, the Chinese are making every effort to win it for the first time, or at least be among the final four.
An official at the Shanghai Venue Organising Committee who spoke to the Daily Graphic on anonymity said, “ the attendance has been very impressive at all the venues because people love football here, but everyone is supporting China, and I'm afraid the turnout will be low if the Chinese are eliminated early. China is a very good side, and it will be heartbreaking if they don't get far. They have to work hard to go all the way to the final,”
the official, said.
Determined to savour glory, the Chinese signed on the Swedish coach, Marika Domansi-Lyors, who led her country to second place in the 2003 event to build the team and lead them to their dreamland.
Domansi-Lyors, herself a former player, has become an instant heroine and icon in China, but both she and the Chinese people realise that that is not easy to be counted among the heavyweights, especially at this competition where there has been tremendous improvement in skills, tactics and techniques.
They need to work extra hard against New Zealand to stay on track after going down heavily to Brazil in their second group match last Saturday.
While it is possible for the Chinese to override the Kiwis, they will also be lucky as Brazil could do them a big favour if they beat Denmark in the other match.
Brazil have picked six points out of the two games and can afford to even draw against Denmark, but with their outstanding performance and their desire to win this championship, it is unlikely they will show any mercy towards the Danes.
World footballer of the Year, Marta, is not the only star performer in the team. Alongside Daniela, as well as their most experienced star, Pretinha, the Brazilians are the players the Danes will have to contend with as they strive to upset the cards to book their way through.
Unfortunately for the Danes, their work has been compounded with the suspension of their coach, Kenneth Heiner-Moller, whose unfriendly words to the Chinese after losing their opening match earned him a FIFA disciplinary hearing following which he was given a two-match ban and six months fixed probation.
The ban started with the second match against New Zealand which they won, but should they win or draw against Brazil and qualify, Coach Heiner-Moller could return to the bench.