Coach Milicic backs tough tests as China women build toward Asian Games, World Cup

WUHAN, June 11 (Xinhua) -- China women's national football team coach Ante Milicic says difficult matches are essential to preparing his squad for future challenges, after a disappointing 2-1 friendly defeat to Russia last week.

"We can play a weaker team and win 5-0, then everyone's happy and waving the flags and clapping. Well done, but that's not here," Milicic told Xinhua during a team training camp in central China's Wuhan.

"You have to go through the difficult times. You've got to go through the thunderstorm to see the sun."

The June 3 defeat to Russia was China's first match since reaching the semifinals of the Women's Asian Cup in March, a run that secured qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.

The Wuhan camp, held from May 18 to June 8, was China's fourth training camp of the year and focused primarily on preparations for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Milicic said the team's long-term focus has already shifted toward the World Cup, while the coaching staff continues to assess new players and tactical combinations.

"After the Asian Cup, looking towards the World Cup, in some ways keeping what we liked in the Asian Cup, what was good and moving forward with that, but at the same time, also to try some new players and some new combinations," he said.

Russia was deliberately selected as an opponent because of their physical style, Milicic added.

"Playing a team like Russia who are physically big and strong, that's very good for us," he said. "In Asia, this [physique] is an advantage for us, and in Europe, it's harder for us. So the only way you can get better is to play against this kind of opponent."

BUILDING ON ASIAN CUP CONFIDENCE

Milicic credited China's strong Asian Cup campaign to an extended preparation period that improved the team's fitness, organization and tactical discipline.

China defeated regional powerhouse the Democratic People's Republic of Korea during the tournament and pushed host Australia in a closely contested semifinal.

"Beating DPRK gives everyone confidence, especially because we played a good game," Milicic said. "We deserved to win."

The Australian added that China can compete with Asia's strongest teams when given sufficient preparation time, but warned that the standard at the World Cup will be even higher.

"The World Cup will be even stronger than what it was in Australia in 2023," he said. "The level is higher. All the teams around the world are improving because they are all investing and women's football is growing. That's going to be the challenge for China."

YOUTH MOVEMENT UNDERWAY

More than half the players called into the recent camp were born after 2000, reflecting an effort to rejuvenate the national team.

Milicic acknowledged that many young players still face a significant gap between domestic and international football.

"Big gap, big gap," he said when asked about the transition. "It's not only what we see with our eyes, but that's also the data."

According to the Australian, international football demands far more than just physical conditioning.

"When you're playing at a higher intensity, you have less time on the ball," he said. "You have to make quicker decisions. Your technique under pressure has to be better. There are so many different layers to that."

The defeat to Russia, despite the result, provided valuable lessons for younger players experiencing the international level.

"It hurts," Milicic said. "But it's the only way you can get better."

BALANCING MAJOR TOURNAMENTS

The Asian Games and the U20 Women's World Cup will both take place later this year, while several senior national team players based overseas could face club-release issues.

Milicic said those uncertainties make player evaluation particularly important.

"We have to test things," he said. "But at the same time, not rely too much on some players that maybe won't be there for the Asian Games."

The coach made clear that China will target the gold medal in Japan while also using the tournament as part of its broader World Cup preparations.

Meanwhile, Milicic stressed that performance and long-term development remain just as important as results.

"Sometimes you can even win a medal when you're not the best," he said. "But for long term, the performance has to be right." Enditem