Ma Xiaoxu (China) - The 19-year-old is the rising star of Chinese women football. Ma inherited the striking baton from Sun Wen, and is considered as the core of the Chinese women's team and the hope of Chinese football's reviving.

Ma started her professional career in 2003 with Dalian club. In her 4-year career experience, she has showed her talents adequately. At the U-19 Asian Cup, she scored seven goals in the match against Malaysia, and won the top scorer award. Then she helped China win the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2006.

After seven years' endeavor, China has again become the leader of Asia. And Ma was also elected to acquire the Golden Boot and the Golden Globe Award. Then in 2007, she was named for the Laureus World Sports Awards.

Marta (Brazil) - In July of 2007 when Marta and her teammates got the Pan American Games champion, she received a special gift from Pele. He called her "petticoated Pele". Marta and her teammates ended the tournament without conceding a goal while scoring 33. Marta scored 12 goals in five games.

When she was just 16, Marta shocked the whole world by scoring six goals at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. Then in 2003, she scored three goals in four matches at the World Cup. And she got the Golden Globe Award undoubtedly although Brazil just finished fourth at FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Thailand 2004.

Now the 21-year-old is looking forward to achieving something at the China 2007.

Katrine Pedersen (Denmark) - As the core of the team, Pedersen has more than 120 caps after her debutant in the national team in 1994. As the captain, she is the leader of the team all the time. Denmark women's team coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller said she is the solidity leader of the defending line.

Pederson and the other two veteran Eggers Nielsen and Meret Pederson are the stanchion of the Denmark women's team. This is the fourth time of the Dane's World Cup tour, and their goal is to get into the semi-finals.

Maia Jackman (New Zealand) - Having serving in the national team for 14 years, the 32-year-old veteran Jackman will have her farewell performance at China 2007. "It will be a big thrill for me and I'll hang up my boots after that," she said recently. "It'll be a great way to finish my career and then I can settle down a bit."

Jackman's assurance of the solid defence at the centre forward and her never-say-die spirit made her the most reliable player in the team. But she does not be arrogant. "To me, it was confirmation of all the hard work I've put in over the years, but I still thought about the other players and how awesome they are, "she said.

Women's World Cup China 2007 is the return of New Zealand after their only appearance on the global stage 16 years ago. And to Jackman it is also an opportunity for herself to consummate her glories.