The world soccer governing body FIFA on Wednesday decided to postpone the China-New Zealand game in the Women's World Cup Group D last round gvto Thursday night (Sept. 20).
China coach Marika Domanski-Lyfors said, "It is a correct move for FIFA to guarantee the fair play but FIFA failed to do this in a serious manner."
The crucial game, which would decide the fate of the World Cup hosts, was originally scheduled to kick off at 20:00 (local time) here on Wednesday.
China and Denmark, both collecting three points after two rounds of matches in Group D, are contesting the second berth for quarterfinals. But FIFA on Tuesday postponed the Denmark-Brazil game until Thursday night in coastal city of Hangzhou due to the typhoon Wipha but kept the China-New Zealand game schedule unchanged.
An insider of the Chinese team told Xinhua on Wednesday that they just received the FIFA notice of the match delay.
"It guarantees the fair play. But it is an incredible last-minute change at the crucial moment that we have held the pre-match meeting. And all of the Chinese players have taken meal and are going to the stadium," the insider said in anger.
"We have already made all fielded players in top form. But now, everything is ruined again," the insider noted.
Domanski-Lyfors, a Swede who led Sweden to runners-up of the 2003 World Cup in the United States, said," The frequent changes of the schedule is rare in world soccer arena."
The coach, who took over the Chinese team in March this year, said, " All my players are in high spirit now and can not wait to punch the Kiwis in tonight's game."
"But FIFA changed everything again, and we have to make readjustment on our high-morale players now," she added.
As the FIFA notice came too late, countless Chinese fans had already gathered around the stadium. Many of them welcomed the change, saying it guaranteed the fair play, but complained that the decision was made too late.
FIFA on Tuesday made a controversial amendment of the last round match schedule of Group C and D due to typhoon Wipha's sweeping of two competition zones in Shanghai and Hangzhou.
The then match reschedule was as follows:
Match 21, Norway-Ghana will be played on Sept. 20 (17:00 local time) in Hangzhou (and not on Sept. 19 in Shanghai as originally scheduled).
Match 24, Brazil-Denmark will be played on Sept. 20 (20:00 local time) in Hangzhou (and not on Sept. 19 as originally scheduled).
Matches 22 and 23 (Australia-Canada, 17:00, in Chengdu and China-New Zealand, 20:00, in Tianjin respectively) remain unchanged.
The insider of the Chinese team said, "Domanski-Lyfors was furious about the Tuesday's amendment as China's arch rival Denmark would play their last game against Brazil one day after the China-New Zealand duel, which was unfair."
In the trickiest group, Athens Olympic runners-up Brazil are topping the rank with two wins and a plus-nine goal difference. The title favorites are 99 percent into the quarterfinals and only a heavy loss (not likely) to Denamrk may change their fate.
China and Denmark, who lost 3-2 to the hosts but beat the Kiwis 2-0 later, are contesting the second qualifying berth. So far, the European giant is ranked second with advantage in four goal difference.
If China can not earn a five-goal winning margin against the Kiwis, the Danes only need a 1-0 win over Brazil on Thursday to qualify.
New Zealand, who were whitewashed by Brazil 5-0, are almost packing and their hope for survival is only in theory.
According to the latest FIFA women's rankings in June, Denmark stood at sixth, Brazil at eighth, China 11th and New Zealand 23rd.
According to FIFA regulations, the last round of group matches must be played simultaneously to guarantee the fair play.
Source: Xinhua
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