SYDNEY, March 2 (Xinhua) -- China head coach Ante Milicic said on Monday that his side is ready to cope with the pressure of being defending champion as it prepares to open its 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup campaign.
The tournament began on Sunday when host Australia edged the Philippines 1-0 at the 60,000-seat Perth Stadium.
China, based in Sydney, will begin its Group B campaign against Bangladesh on Tuesday.
"They were doing well with their style of play. At the same time we have a strong focus on ourselves, on our own team, on our own preparation. And hopefully we can achieve what we've been working on our training and have a positive performance tomorrow which relates to a positive result," Milicic said at a press conference.
The tournament will be Milicic's first major competition as China's head coach since his appointment in May 2024.
Asked about the pressure of being among the favorites, the 51-year-old Australian said the team has high expectations.
"As we mentioned with the preparation we have, we believe in ourselves. We have our own expectations and our expectations are high," he said.
"We don't need people from the outside to tell us how important it is to do so. We are fully aware of this, and we know what it means to our supporter, to the people back home as well. So we focus on ourselves one game at a time and then hopefully we can make everyone proud."
Captain Wu Haiyan said the first match of a tournament is always difficult, but the team is well prepared and hopes to show the spirit of the Steel Roses.
Wu became the team's captain as early as the 2015 Women's World Cup. A decade on, she still wears the armband at 33 and has shifted from right back early in her career to an experienced central defender.
"For me, whether 10 years ago or now, maintaining a sense of freshness towards the game always comes from my love for football," she said.
"I also particularly cherish each match to play for the national team. I hope to inspire more people who love football. And I hope more girls can join in this sport, which is something I have always tried to achieve."
Bangladesh is making its Women's Asian Cup debut. Head coach Peter Butler said his squad is not in Australia simply to participate.
"It is probably the biggest and the most historic game in women's football in the Bangladesh history. And girls have been fantastically well to qualify. A lot of hard work went in," he said.
Butler said his side would stick to its style. "We win, lose or draw, I want us to play our football. We won't be parking buses."
The 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup is being held across Sydney, Perth and the Gold Coast from March 1 to 21. Twelve teams are split into three groups, with the top two in each group and the two best third-placed teams advancing to the quarterfinals. ■
