Steel Roses facing stiff challenge in group stage

The group stage of next year's Women's World Cup in France shapes up as a tough test for China's Steel Roses.

Currently ranked No 15 in the world, China will face European powerhouses Germany (No 2) and Spain (No 12), along with 48th-ranked South Africa in Group B.

Spain, despite being ranked 12th, didn't drop a point throughout qualifying for France and was the second team behind the host to secure a berth in the tournament.

Germany has never missed out on advancing to the knockout stages of a World Cup and has twice won the title (2003 and 2007).

Speaking after Saturday's World Cup draw in Paris, Germany coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, said that with China and particularly Spain, her squad had been drawn in a "demanding group".

Voss-Tecklenburg, who only took over as coach at the end of last month, pointed to Germany's second group stage match against Spain as one that "will certainly be challenging".

Germany opens its campaign against China on June 8 in Rennes, and Voss-Tecklenburg said it could be problem "because we never know much about the Chinese."

Under new head coach Jia Xiuquan, the Steel Roses have put together an impressive lead-up campaign, including finishing third in the AFC Women's Asian Cup last April.

Striker Li Ying, who grew up playing with boys due to a lack of a girls team in her area, scored seven goals in five qualifying matches for the World Cup.

Another of China's stars, midfielder Wang Shuang, was named AFC women's player of the year last month.

Wang has been plying her trade in Europe at French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain.

"It will not be an easy game against any team. After all, it's the World Cup," she told Xinhua after the draw.

"Players and coaches will pay great attention to it, so there is much possibility ahead.

"I think we just need to focus on ourselves and move forward step by step, without thinking too much about other factors. We just need to keep training hard and prepare well."

China has faced Germany 30 times, with the Germans winning 16 matches to China's eight. There have been six draws.

The two sides last met at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where Germany won 1-0.

Next year's tournament will be the eighth FIFA Women's World Cup staged, and the seventh in which China has competed.

In all their previous campaigns, the Steel Roses have made it out of the group stage and through to the knockout rounds.

The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup begins in France on June 7 and concludes on July 7.

Team China's Group B schedule:

Germany vs China: June 8, Roazhon Park (21.00 local)

South Africa vs China: June 13, Parc des Princes (21.00 local)

China vs Spain: June 17, Stade Oceane (18.00 local)

Other groups: A) South Korea, Norway and Nigeria; C) Australia, Italy, Brazil, Jamaica; D) England, Scotland, Argentina, Japan; E) Canada, Cameroon, New Zealand, Netherlands; F) United States, Thailand, Chile, Sweden.

Xinhua