German coach Eckhard Krautzun has stepped down as an adviser to China's women's football team due to ill health. "I hope to come back to China one day, but right now I must take care of my health," he told China Daily. With head coach Ma Liangxing also away with health problems, the China team currently playing in the Algarve Cup in southern Portugal is being managed by caretaker coach Wang Haiming. Krautzun, viewed as a possible replacement to Ma or Wang, joined the Chinese women in January as a consultant. He never coached women before but coached a half dozen Bundesliga teams, and five national teams - Canada, South Korea, Tunisia, Kenya and the Philippines - men's youth teams in China.
The Peoples Republic of China will host the 16-team women's World Cup in September and the country's women's team is among the favorites in a wide-open field that also includes strong teams like Germany, Sweden, Norway, North Korea, Brazil and the United States.
The Peoples Republic of China will host the 16-team women's World Cup in September and the country's women's team is among the favorites in a wide-open field that also includes strong teams like Germany, Sweden, Norway, North Korea, Brazil and the United States.