The Chinese women footballers, beaten by the Germans in a surprising 8-0 opener of the Athens Olympic soccer tournament, are gearing up for their second group match against Mexico slated Saturday in Patras.

The Chinese team members, stunned by the opening defeat, "dare not to look down upon their Mexican opponents although they are seemingly not strong enough in a fast-developing world of women's soccer," said a Chinese team member asked to be identified on Thursday.

The Chinese women are "cool-minded" while some took the 8-0 defeat as a "shame" to the national team, which has won a tag of "Steel Roses" after its runner-up finish twice in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 1999 World Cup.

In a tournament of 10 women teams in three groups, Mexico, a debutant at the Olympic Games, is due to open its Olympic campaign against China two days later.

Low-profiled Mexican coach Leo Cuellar said upon arriving Patras that "we are in a very difficult group with Germany and China, and the best thing for us is that they played against each other in the opening match."

However, in the view of the Chinese, the Mexicans are another strong team after they defeated Canada in their qualifying tournament.