Sun Wen [File photo]

Former China star Sun Wen, who shared the FIFA Women's Player of the Century with American Michelle Akers, said on Monday that the Chinese team could qualify for the knock-out stage of the World Cup despite losing its first group match against host Canada.

Christine Sinclair scored a stoppage-time penalty to help Canada beat China 1-0 at the Women's World Cup opening game on Saturday.

"It's a pity that we conceded a goal in the closing moments," Sun Wen told Xinhua.

"But it would be a surprise if China had managed a tie with the hosts, as they are superior to the Chinese team," she added.

A generation of talented players such as Sun Wen propelled the Chinese team, nicknamed as the "Steel Roses", to the game's heights in the late 1990s. They finished second to the U.S. at the 1999 World Cup. But the retirement of Sun and a string of coaching changes have sent the team on a slide backward. Since then, it hasn't advanced past the quarterfinals at a World Cup or Olympics.

China, who is making its first appearance in the World Cup after an eight-year absence, will face the Netherlands and New Zealand in their following group matches.

Sun Wen, who watched the World Cup on TV at her homtown Shanghai, believes that the Chinese team still has a fairly good chance to make the second round.

"The Dutch and Kiwi players are not physically as strong as the Canadians. They both play slow games, especially in the second half. So if the Chinese girls can fully execute their agility and fast pace, they can win the next two matches," said Sun.

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