The coach of China's women's national soccer team Thursday took the blame for his team's devastating 1-0 loss to Canada in the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup, but said he was willing to stay on as coach.

"Several years ago I said that our team was only a second tier team and this made a lot of people unhappy at the time," Ma Liangxing was quoted by Sina.com sports as saying after the loss in Portland, Oregon.

"But from the group matches and the quarter-final match it is true we are only a second tier team."

China lost after Canada's Charmaine Hooper scored the winner early in the match and goalkeeper Taryn Swiatek made five crucial saves.

China was runner up in the 1996 Olympic Games and in the 1999 World Cup, but since then have not maintained a high level of play.

"We created a lot of opportunities during the game, but didn't score, so the problem has to rest with my training plan. As coach, I believe I'm responsible for losing," Ma said.

Ma said that a decision on whether he stays on as the national team coach would likely be made by the China Football Association.

"If I have the opportunity, I would like to continue to coach the national team, generally speaking I think with my experience and what I have learned I believe that I can get better results in the future," he said.

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