Stop crying and focus on the Olympics, China's players told

China has told its distraught national soccer team to wipe away the tears and focus on the Olympic Games next year, after it bowed out of the Women's World Cup in front of 52,000 home fans in Wuhan on Sunday night.

China's 1-0 quarter-final loss to Norway, courtesy of a number of fluffed goal chances and a crucial defensive blunder from rookie Wang Kun, left players and spectators weeping at the Wuhan Sports Centre Stadium.

"The road is still long. I hope you can now dry your eyes," yesterday's Beijing News quoted Xie Yalong, a vice-chairman of the Chinese FA, as saying.

"After all, there is still the 2008 Olympic Games. Although everyone feels bad at the moment, there's nothing that can be done," Xie added.

Eleventh-ranked China's loss to world number four Norway drew both sympathy and admonishment in the nation's newspapers.

China's failure to reach their semi-final target left coach Marika Domanski-Lyfors pondering her future, despite a ringing endorsement from players and Chinese football officials.

"For me, first of all, I would have to think about if I would be the coach in future and in the Olympic Games," the China Daily quoted the Swede as saying.

"No matter who coaches, China is a great team," she said.

Norway will play their semi-final against defending champions Germany in Tianjin tomorrow night.