China will aim to breathe life into their Women's World Cup campaign when they take on Haiti on Friday. Anything other than victory would leave the Asian champions confronting the prospect of an early elimination. 

The Steel Roses have featured in the knockout rounds in all of their previous six World Cup appearances, but a narrow defeat to Denmark has left their presence at the showpiece event in huge danger. 

Coach Shui Qingxia, who last year masterminded China's first major title in 16 years after beating South Korea in the Asian Cup final, is nevertheless undaunted by the gravity of the crucial contest. 

With China ranked 14th in the world and 39 places above Haiti, they will go into the showdown as the favorites, but Shui warned her players not to underestimate their opponents.

"When it comes to the World Cup, it's not as simple as just using world rankings to measure a team's strength," insisted Shui. "In the group stage, there are no pushovers, and every team has their own unique strengths." 

"After our defeat to Denmark, our upcoming match against Haiti is absolutely crucial. We've been drilling hard on how to defend against their lightning-fast offensive moves."

"Their players are incredibly skilled, so we'll definitely be feeling the pressure. We need to keep possession of the ball and limit their chances to attack." 

Shui, who became the first female head coach of China when she took over a young squad in late 2021, still harbors a sense of disappointment when reflecting on their opening loss. 

"It was a pity we lost our first game due to a late goal," she observed. "But we gave it our all and showed what we're made of, so I've been cheering on my players to keep their spirits up. We still have more games to come, so we need to forget about that defeat for now."

"Our entire focus is on our match against Haiti. I'll be making some personnel changes to the starting lineup, including the position of our captain, Wang Shanshan."

Out of the 23 players in the China squad, 14 of them are making their first World Cup appearance. Shui believes that these youngsters represent the future of China and this World Cup is a golden opportunity for them to hone their skills and gain some much-needed experience on the world stage. 

"We've got a bunch of fresh faces on our team who are making their World Cup debuts. It's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for them," said Shui.  

"I've been telling them not to get too wrapped up in winning or losing before the game, and not to worry about the outcome if we don't come out on top. Instead, we need to play the way we've been training, strengthen our communication with one another, and build trust within the team."

"I wholeheartedly believe they're going to perform amazingly. We need these young guns to bring new vitality to our team. For our more seasoned players, this is a chance to showcase their skills, and for our younger players, it's an invaluable opportunity for growth."

"Sure, there may be some challenges on this stage, but judging by their stellar performance in the first game, I think they've got this in the bag." 

"As of now, our young players are showing tremendous growth and potential, and I fully intend to provide them with even more chances to shine moving forward."