Shui Qingxia, manager of the Chinese women's national football team, said they have to beat Denmark in their first game at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, or they will have no chance to make the knockout stage.

China are in Group D with Denmark, England and an unconfirmed team from the qualification playoff competitions at next year's Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand between July 20 and August 20, 2023.

"There are two European teams in our group and both are stronger than China," Shui said in an interview with China Media Group's "Football Night" on Saturday night. "I have been following England's games. They are in their prime both in skills and momentum. Honestly, there is quite a big gap between them and us. It will be a very rough game with many possibilities. But that's what football is."

"We are playing Denmark first. If we lose, we will be basically hopeless to advance to the knockout stage," Shui added. "So we must prepare well for it. They are stronger than us in general. We are like David who is trying to challenge Goliath. There is no weak team in Europe. We must get ready both physically and mentally."

Chinese national team member Wang Shanshan also connected with Football Night. "(The draw results) are acceptable to me," Wang Shanshan said. "At the beginning of the draw, we wanted to be in the same group with one of the hosts. Then it turned out that we are with the European champions England. It's a challenge for us. They are the European champions and we are the Asian champions. I want to display Asian spirit on the field."

As China's ace, Wang Shuang had an interview with Five Star Sports. "I think it's a good draw result because we can play against the European champions. It's good for us. Denmark have been growing fast these years. No matter who the third opponent is, we will do our best against them," she said.