Ranked 14th in the world going into the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, Shui Qingxia’s side won the AFC Women’s Asian Cup last year, but did so by beating a South Korean side who finished bottom of Group H without winning a game.

The reality is that the Steel Roses’ victory in India in February 2022 was more of a false dawn than the start of a new era, and Shui’s acceptance that the gap between China and the field was “huge” was the only sensible response for a team that has been trending downwards since before the 8-2 thrashing handed out by the Netherlands at the Tokyo Olympics.

Once a leading power in the game, China hosted the first Women’s World Cup in 1991, made the semi-finals in 1995, won silver at the 1996 Olympics, and only lost to the US in the 1999 final on penalties.

China legend tells current crop to play abroad after Fifa Women’s World Cup exit

Much like with the men’s game, a generation or two has been lost to a poor domestic set-up that is still finding surprise in women wanting to play.

Former internationals describe strict Soviet-style coaching methods, a society that prioritises study over sport, and a culture that long dissuaded women from playing the game.

As a result, there are a lack of young players coming through the system, and those who do are less exposed to foreign coaching. Of the 23 players in Shui’s squad, only six play outside China.

After the England defeat, Shui said her plan was “to evaluate the gap properly and then find ways to improve and work harder. We need to analyse and find the things to improve in the future”.

Working harder is only part of the solution. The game, as Shui’s former Chinese teammate Gao Hong points out, has moved on. Which is why England, Norway, Sweden and Japan have stayed at the top.

“The Chinese Football Association has used coaches from our generation, like Shui Qingxia and five years ago I coached the youth team in the CFA,” said Hong, who was part of the great team of the 1990s.

“The spirit of the Steel Roses is from then to now. But I think football should go forward, we should not always look back. We should go forward, go abroad, and go professional.”

02:28

Spanish women’s football team apologises for video showing haka dance attempt

Spanish women’s football team apologises for video showing haka dance attempt

Of course, there is also the cycle that means talent ebbs and flows, which is why the United States are not the all-conquering force they once were.

60-Second Catch-up

Deep dives

China look to next generation after humiliating Women’s World Cup exit

• Steel Roses head home despondent as gulf between reigning Asian champions and best in Europe grows by the tournament

• Coach Shui Qingxia insists it was ‘important’ to turn to youth from bench in 6-1 loss to England with eye on future – and Asian Games

It took Shui Qingxia almost 90 minutes to emerge for her post-match media duties, with China’s coach keeping her players in the dressing room long after the final whistle brought a merciful end to a mauling that highlighted how far the nation has fallen from their lofty peak.

Can China lift their mood at Fifa Women’s World Cup? Time off is key, coach says

• Defeat in Adelaide, after opening loss to Denmark, would effectively end China’s campaign before their last group game against England

• China coach Shui Qingxia tells her team to ‘put aside the last match and take a good rest and then adjust ourselves’

China coach Shui Qingxia leads her team into their must-win Fifa Women’s World Cup clash with Haiti on Friday hoping a hiatus from the tournament’s pressures will help them keep alive their chances of progressing.

Late Wang penalty keeps China’s World Cup hopes alive in dramatic win over Haiti

• Substitute Wang Shuang scores from spot 16 minutes from time as China overcome early red card for Zhang Rui

• Haiti had late penalty claim overruled by VAR in result that means China could still qualify for knockout stages

Substitute Wang Shuang’s penalty 16 minutes from time kept China’s Women’s World Cup challenge alive in Adelaide on Friday, as the Steel Roses overcame Zhang Rui’s 28th minute sending off to register a dramatic 1-0 win over tournament debutants Haiti.

The slender victory was greeted with a roar from the majority inside Hindmarsh Stadium and Shui Qingxia’s side will take on England on Tuesday knowing their hopes of a place in the Round of 16 remain intact.

China’s Wang Shuang backs coach with Steel Roses on verge of World Cup exit

• China must beat England on Tuesday and hope Haiti can pull off a miracle against Denmark

• Defensive approach by coach Shui Qingxia, which has included leaving Wang on the bench at the start of games, has raised questions

China must beat England on Tuesday if they are to have any chance of reaching the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup, and Wang Shuang said she had complete confidence in coach Shui Qingxia’s tactics despite questions over the team’s defensive approach.

Defeat in the opening game to Denmark, and a fortunate 1-0 win over Haiti on Friday when down to 10 players, leaves China in a position of having to win if they are not to be the first Steel Roses side to fail to get out of the group stage.

China could unleash Wang for must-win World Cup clash vs England

• Head coach Shui Qingxia admits absence of suspended playmaker Zhang Rui is ‘huge loss’ after red card against Haiti

• Head coach Shui Qingxia could turn to Wang after striker came off bench on Friday to score winner and keep China’s campaign alive

Head coach Shui Qingxia admitted the absence of suspended playmaker Zhang Rui is “a huge loss” ahead of China’s pivotal Fifa Women’s World Cup clash against European champions England on Tuesday, but was coy on US-based striker Wang Shuang’s chances of starting in Adelaide.

Vice-captain Zhang was sent off in the 1-0 victory over Haiti on Friday before Racing Louisville striker Wang came off the bench to score the penalty that earned the Steel Roses the three points which kept their campaign alive.

Players did their best against Denmark but focus lacking, says China’s Shui

• Substitute Amalie Vangsgaard scores in 90th minute to earn side 1-0 win at Rectangular Stadium

• England beat Haiti in earlier game in Group D, leaving things evenly poised ahead of second round of matches

China face an uphill battle to book a spot in the knockout rounds of the Women’s World Cup after Shui Qingxia’s continental champions suffered a late 1-0 defeat in their tournament opener against Denmark in Perth on Saturday evening.

Amalie Vangsgaard’s 90th minute header condemned China to the loss in a game slated before kick-off as a must-win encounter with the pair drawn in the same group as heavily favoured European champions England.

China coach Shui planning route back to top of women’s football for Steel Roses

• China take on Denmark in their opening game in Group D in Perth, looking to return to the final of tournament for the first time since 1999

• The Steel Roses have never failed to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup when they qualify

Shui Qingxia has set her sights on taking China back to the top of global football as her team prepares to launch their Women’s World Cup challenge against Denmark in Perth on Saturday, more than 24 years after the country’s only appearance in the tournament’s final.

The Chinese lost in a penalty shoot-out at Pasenda Rose Bowl to hosts the United States in 1999 in an era when the nation dominated the game within Asia and battled the Americans for global supremacy.

Global Impact is a weekly curated newsletter featuring a news topic originating in China with a significant macro impact for our newsreaders around the world.