By Phil Jones, CNNSI.com

After losing last year's Women's World Cup final match to their United States hosts, China's coach was still adamant.

"We are the best team in the world," he maintained.

The Chinese women didn't have the trophy to prove it, but they were every bit as good as the United States side that July day in Los Angeles and lost in a spot-kick lottery.

China also lost the last Olympic final to the U.S. -- again on American soil in Athens, Georgia. Again they produced a sterling display to give the hosts a scare.

This time, though, they are much closer to home.

But for a couple of votes, Beijing and not Sydney would be hosting these games. Nonetheless, it's a relatively short jaunt to Sydney for the Chinese squad... and the U.S. can't rely on a massive partisan crowd to pull them through.

China has World Cup Golden Boot winner Sun Wen to provide its attacking spark.

The Chinese place so much emphasis on Olympic success that you can take it as gospel that Sun and her teammates will be superbly prepared.

In this eight-team tournament, Brazil and Norway are also more than capable of challenging the United States for gold.

But it is finally China's turn to graduate from bridesmaids to brides by taking the title.

By Jeff Green, CNNSI.com

Go ahead and ship the gold medals to Mia Hamm and company.

These two teams might not even make it to the final, but history points that way. They met in the finals of the last two major tournaments -- the '96 Olympics and '99 World Cup -- and both times the U.S. women prevailed on home soil.

One of the world's three best teams won't even make it out of group play, with Norway paired against China, the U.S. and up-and-comer Nigeria in Group F. Look for the U.S. and China to emerge and for both of them to win their semifinals against weaker Group E foes.

The two could hardly be more evenly matched, with Sun Wen and Hamm battling for the title of "world's greatest" -- and chasing the legacy of all-time best Michelle Akers.

Akers and hobbled captain Carla Overbeck were expected to provide leadership and a cause to rally around. But poor health forced Akers into retirement after she was already named to the roster.

Injuries could be an even bigger problem for China, however, with Sun Wen and Liu Ying ailing.

The U.S. won't be able to rely on home support, getting a chance to remove any doubts about its greatness. Experience, depth and a proven ability to focus in big tournaments will make the difference, giving 11 of the Americans their second gold medal.

Coach April Heinrichs' squad will be well-drilled after 33 warmup games in 2000. After having played China to a tie and a penalty-kick loss, the U.S. women need the gold to boost the fledgling WUSA.