The Chinese national women's soccer team arrived in Tianjin, a Beijing Olympics co-host city, on Thursday to finalize preparations for the upcoming Olympics.

China, in Group E with Sweden, Canada and Argentina at the Olympics, will kick off its opening match against Sweden here on Aug. 6.

The Chinese team just ended a 20-day training camp in Qinhuangdao, where they held defending Olympic champion the United States 0-0, drew 2-2 with African champion Nigeria and beat New Zealand 1-0.

Since the golden years of the 1990s, the Chinese Steel Roses have been in a downward spiral, sitting 14th in the latest FIFA rankings.

The Chinese girls aim at Olympic medals at home. However, star striker Ma Xiaoxu may miss the Olympics as she injured left knee in a warm-up against the U.S. one day earlier, casting shadows on her team's prospect.

China failed to defend their Asian Cup title in June after losing 2-1 to DPR Korea in the final. In the FIFA World Cup 2007, China, also host, was defeated by Norway 1-0 in the quarterfinal.

Tianjin, a large city adjacent to Beijing, will host 11 group stage soccer matches and a women's soccer quarterfinal at the Beijing Olympics.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2008)