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Home cooking China's women bemoan food and flights
Posted: Friday July 09, 1999 02:12 PM
CLAREMONT, California (AP) -- On Tuesday, it was order in, Chinese food. On Wednesday, it was order in, Chinese food. The following night, ditto. China's soccer team is hungry for some home cooking. Coach Ma Yuanen patiently fielded questions about his players and the Women's World Cup championship match against the United States, then suddenly grew animated when asked about his team's stay in this country. "The food is too simple; the variety is too limited, so we always have orders delivered from Chinese restaurants,' Ma said, smiling and gesturing. The Chinese are accustomed to having a spread of many dishes with a variety of tastes at each meal, unlike the meat-and-potatoes or chicken-and-peas simplicity of basic American fare. Even well-meaning Chinese-Americans haven't been of much help. "We have met many warmhearted Chinese people," Ma said, speaking through an interpreter. "You meet Chinese people, you take at least two hours to chat; it's a cultural thing. "We just want the food." Food and flights -- without even considering food on flights -- have been the biggest adjustments for the Chinese players and staff during the World Cup. Counting the trip from Massachusetts earlier this week for Saturday's game at the Rose Bowl, the Chinese have made for cross-country trips and traveled 20,400 kilometers (12,673 miles) during the tournament. The American players have flown less than half that much, with just one cross-country trip and a total of 8,850 kilometers (5,498 miles). The Americans played their semifinal in Stanford, California, while the Chinese were back on the East Coast in Foxboro, Massachusetts. "We can't let that cost us energy; we have just tried to stay with our program," Ma said. "That [the travel] has been something that has been out of the control of the team. "If you worry about those things, it can affect you. We just want to be psychologically ready to play." All the traveling time and eating out of cardboard cartons hasn't seemed to bother China's players. They sailed through their group with a 3-0 record, outscoring opponents 12-2. After beating Russia 2-0 in the quarterfinals, they overwhelmed defending World Cup champion Norway 5-0 in the semifinals. China has scored 19 goals in the tournament, one more than the United States, and Sun Wen is tied for the individual scoring lead with seven goals. Gao Hong, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, has allowed only two shots to get past her in the five games. Her American counterpart, Briana Scurry, has been almost as successful, giving up just three goals. China beat the United States in two of their last three meetings, and Ma, asked to compare the teams, said the Americans have a very good, aggressive attack. "We are very familiar with the USA team and its tactics," the coach said. "We're quite familiar with each key player. "Our team has good ball-controlling ability, and very fluent combinations between the players. We have very good organization overall, defending and attacking." High-scoring forward Sun said that, while the United States has a fine front line, she believes China might have more depth on the field. "I believe we have a high level with all three of our lines, the forwards, the midfield and the defense," she said. Ma wasn't very happy Thursday when the American practice -- and the accompanying media circus -- lasted well into China's practice period at Pomona-Pitzer college. But, in an earlier conversation, he said he liked the championship matchup. "It's a very exciting match. No matter which team wins, it will be a good performance," the coach said. "If China wins, the whole country will be totally excited."
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