BEIJING - China's women's soccer team hope to better their fifth place in last year's Algarve Cup, said head coach Hao Wei on Friday.

"We finished fifth at last year's tournament, that gave us inspiration. We are striving for a better result this year," Hao told reporters before the team departed Beijing for Portugal.

It means that the former cup winners need to reach at least the final four at the even which will kick off on March 4.

The Chinese team won their first Algarve cup in 1999, lifted the trophy again in 2002 and finished second in 2003. But they never reached top three since then. And last year's fifth place was their best result in four years.

It will not be a easy job for the Chinese side as they have been drawn in the group along with defending champions Germany, Brazil and Sweden.

"The team improved a lot in the past three weeks. We are confident now," said Hao.