When former China captain Sun Wen returned to the national team in late 2005 after a two-year lay-off due to injury, she received warm encouragement from her long-time friend Kristine Lilly, a stalwart of the USA team.

One year and nine months on, the evergreen American is going to write her name in the history books by becoming the only player to participate in all five FIFA Women's World Cups, while Sun Wen will have to watch from the stands after she was forced to call time on her illustrious career last year. "Lilly's physical strength and spirit are enviable, but by saying this I am not jealous of her," Sun Wen told FIFA.com in a recent interview. "I really hope she can continue to impress the watching world in the Women's World Cup."

Two pioneers of the women's game, China and USA have met on the world stage on more than one occasion, but the on-pitch rivalry has served to foster a friendly rivalry between the two teams. Sun Wen struck up friendships with a number of American players, including Lilly whom she got to know during a spell at Atlanta Beat in the now-defunct WUSA league back in 2001. "Lilly is two years older than me and for me, she is a role model," said Sun Wen. "But I can't emulate her because I was hampered by serious injuries."

Over more than a decade, Sun Wen - one of the goalscoring greats of women's football - spearheaded the Steel Roses in four editions of the FIFA Women's World Cup. Eventually, however, injury forced her into retirement from the sport she loves aged 33. "Like a car needs regular maintenance, a player needs enough time to rest away from the pressure and stress of the game, otherwise their playing career will be significantly shortened," Sun Wen said. "Lilly and her team did it better than us in their proper management of work and rest, and that is why they have been able to maintain their best form for a longer period."

Sun Wen's absence from the national team after USA 2003 was seen by many as a heavy loss to Chinese women's football and when former coach Ma Liangxing returned to the helm two years ago, he wasted no time in persuading his old skipper to return. "Many of my team-mates encouraged me to come back and very often they compared me to Lilly. When I rejoined the national team for the four-nation tournament in early 2006, Lilly also came to me herself to congratulate me," Sun Wen recalled. "We had a good talk and we promised each other we would meet one year later at the Women's World Cup. It is a pity that I will miss out on meeting Lilly on the world stage but I wish her a successful tournament."

New hope Although retired from playing, Sun Wen remains close to the sport and, with China hosting the event for a second time, she is enjoying her new role as a FIFA Women's Football ambassador. "As a veteran who played in all the previous FIFA Women's World Cups, I am happy to see that the women's game has made consistent progress across the world. In the inaugural Women's World Cup only a few of the participating teams impressed, but today all the 16 qualified team are strong sides and none can be underestimated."

Asked which teams she considered genuine contenders for the title. Sun Wen replied: "Holders Germany and two-time champions USA are unquestionably the biggest favourites for the title. The likes of Brazil, Sweden and Norway also rank among the top teams."

Having led China to the USA 1999 final, where her team lost on penalties to USA, the tournament's adidas Golden Boot and adidas Golden Goal winner is hoping the new-look Steel Roses can build upon what the old generation achieved. "Obviously the team is advancing under new coach Marika Domanski-Lyfors, and despite their lack of experience they are still among the world's elite. With the young talents complementing the old heads, they are more than capable of doing the nation proud," Sun Wen concluded.