ENTURY CITY, Calif.- Yan Zhongjian, assistant coach of the Chinese national women's soccer team, was in a particularly helpful mood at yesterday's Women's World Cup media conference.
After answering each question from an international media corps, he thanked the reporter who had asked it. Later, he began to answer a question posed to a Brazilian player before catching himself with a smile.
Zhongjian's mood could sour drastically by Saturday if the Chinese women don't defeat the United States at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena to capture their first World Cup title.
Yesterday, Zhongjian didn't seem overly worried about the outcome. Top-seeded China considers itself at the very least on an even level with the US women.
''Overall, the skill is about the same among all the players [on the US and Chinese teams],'' said Zhongjian, attending the media conference in place of head coach Ma Yuanan. ''On the Chinese team, there are some individuals who are stronger. Sun Wen already has made seven goals, and there is no individual from the United States who can do that. [Tiffeny Milbrett leads the US team with three.] ''
There are reasons to believe China should be favored. China has beaten the United States in two of three meetings this year and is coming off a 5-0 thrashing of defending World Cup champion Norway in the semifinals at Foxboro Stadium.
''We couldn't stop them,'' lamented assistant Norway coach Jarl Torske.
US coach Tony DiCicco said of the Chinese: ''They are an artistic team and a credit to the women's game. They've shown the world a side that hasn't been totally embraced. And certainly China has been one of the teams that has done that on the very highest level.
''We have a lot of challenges against China. They're an outstanding team.''
Statistically speaking, the teams are practically mirror images of each other. China has scored 19 goals, the United States 18. Goalkeeper Gao Hong of China has allowed two goals in five games; Briana Scurry of the United States has given up three goals in five games.
The one key difference appears to be conversion ratio, which favors the United States. The United States has converted almost 49 percent of its shots on goal (18 of 37), and China has converted a still-impressive 33 percent (19 of 57).
Anyone looking for intangibles should note that a victory would be sweet redemption for the Chinese. China hosted the inaugural Women's World Cup in 1991 and finshed fifth as the United States brought the Cup home.
''We are very honored to be in the final,'' said Zhongjian. ''The results so far have been very satisfying. Everyone has been ecstatic.''
Apparently, no one more so than Zhongjian himself.
