Wang primed for Algarve test

Wang Shuang is raring to show how far the Chinese women's national team has progressed at the Algarve Cup over the next week.

The annual invitational tournament in scenic southern Portugal is part of the Steel Roses' preparations for this summer's World Cup finals.

China kicks off its Algarve campaign against Norway on Friday before concluding its Group C schedule against Denmark on Monday.

Star playmaker Wang is not taking the games lightly.

"We want to put everything that our coach (Jia Xiuquan) has emphasized into matches at the Algarve Cup. The team has been training for several months and we are familiar with what our coach wants. It's a great opportunity for us to give our all," Wang told Xinhua on Tuesday.

The tournament features 12 teams in total, including China's World Cup Group B opponent Spain.

"Rivalry with these strong opponents will make us more aware of any problems we have to fix," said defender Wu Haiyan. "And we want to show how we've improved in the matches."

Wang has joined up with the squad after being excused from recent friendly matches due to her duties with her club, Paris Saint-Germain.

The 24-year-old reigning Asian women's player of the year made global headlines last August when she became the French giant's first Chinese player.

The PSG ace is glad to finally reconnect with her international teammates this week and kick off her World Cup build-up in earnest.

"I have not been with the team for a while, so it's a test for me to show what I've trained for over the past months," said Wang.

"It's a dream for every female player to stand on the World Cup stage. We need to make full preparations in the final phase before that.

"I think it's a dream for every footballer to win the world title. Having been at a low ebb for a while, the team now wants to show something, either in terms of results or mentality."

The FIFA Women's World Cup will be held in France from June 7 to July 7. As well as Spain, China will face Germany and South Africa in Group B at the quadrennial competition.