This tournament may be on foreign soil for China, but judging by Friday night at Hindmarsh Stadium, you wouldn’t know that.
Before the game, China PR coach Shui Qingxia spoke about the need to change the guard in her team, with the coach placing expectations on future generations to guide the further successful direction of Chinese football.
China has several players in their World Cup squad over the age of 30 with the team needing to transition to a younger make-up over the coming years.
“We need some change in the team,” Qingxia said.
“We are never afraid of starting from zero. Only when we start from zero can we have new growth and development.”
For the present though, the support for the Steel Roses in Australia has been an unmatched advantage for the team.
One of Australia’s largest segments of population is those born of Chinese ancestry, and it showed on Friday night as they spurred China PR on to a heroic 1-0 win over Haiti. There are over a million people in Australia of Chinese ancestry in Australia as per the 2016 census.
It would be hard to pick out anyone in the stands who wasn’t in Chinese colours with Adelaide’s Hindmarsh Stadium packed and singing loudly for the team’s do-or-die Haiti clash.
This translated onto the pitch with the Chinese bursting out of the blocks looking to make early inroads into the Haiti defence.
That was abruptly halted, though when an agricultural challenge from experienced midfielder Rui Zhang saw a VAR review for a possible send off. After a brief glance at the screen, referee Marta Huerta felt obliged to brandish the red card and leave China with it all to do just half an hour in.
This game couldn’t have had more pressure on it for the reigning Asian champions. The side’s opening-round defeat to Demark meant they needed to win their final two matches. Anything less than three points on Friday could have spelled their campaign’s end.
A strong start from Haiti in the second half saw a barrage of chances fall for the Caribbean nation, and it looked inevitable they’d open the scoring.
However, the bouncing Chinese fans never let up with every tackle and positive moment celebrated with vigour. Every section of the stadium shouting the praises of their battling team and making up for being a player down.
This was no more accurately expressed than by star fullback and strong performer on the night Mengwen Li. Li explained that she was surprised by how many fans were getting behind China in Adelaide.
She said that while there may have been some pre-match nerves within the squad, that all changed when they saw the Chinese faithful pouring into Adelaide’s boutique stadium.
“It’s wonderful really, it was like a home court,” Li said.
“This game was very important for us to get the points, so when we came to the court and saw so many Chinese fans it was actually for the confidence and the belief inside. We get so much power inside.
“So many people behind us that push us.”
They’ll need their fans again on Tuesday when they seek down the still-perfect European champions England. It’s set to be held at Hindmarsh Stadium once more with Adelaideans likely to be treated to more exciting World Cup football.
Feature image credit: Alex Pantling FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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