SHANGHAI (AFP) - Fabio Cannavaro's short reign as China football coach could already be over after the hosts were beaten for the second time in five days on Monday (March 25) and again failed to score.
The Italian World Cup winner in 2006 was put in charge 10 days ago, but the local media had speculated that the China Cup amounted to an audition to be fellow Italian Marcello Lippi's long-term successor.
If that was the case, the 45-year-old legendary defender fluffed his lines.
The home side followed up last Thursday's 1-0 loss to Thailand with another disjointed display in the four-team tournament, going down 1-0 to lower-ranked Uzbekistan in the third place play-off.
In front of a sparse crowd for the mid-afternoon match in Nanning, China failed to muster a shot on target and there was a smattering of jeers at the final whistle.
Former Juventus and Real Madrid star Cannavaro, who is also coach at Guangzhou Evergrande, said afterwards that he would hold talks with the Chinese Football Association (CFA) and the Chinese Super League (CSL) club.
"But until now the CFA hasn't made any clear statement about the appointment," he said.
"I have said before: taking over the national football team can be a very big challenge. The bigger the challenge, the greater the passion will be.
Â
Â
"As the national team is experiencing changes, we all have some concerns about the pace and degree of the changes.
"If (China) needs me, I will consider it, but who can be the coach of the national team cannot be decided in one day."
Juggling a top CSL job and the national side "is difficult", Cannavaro admitted, after another meek defeat that left China - who have grand ambitions to host a World Cup and become a major footballing force - bottom of the four sides in the China Cup.
"We still need to calm down and discuss it. If we cannot find a suitable way to cooperate, I will still coach Evergrande (only)."
Cannavaro made five changes to the side lucky to lose by just one goal to Thailand, but it only made the team - missing the rested Espanyol forward Wu Lei - less effective.
They were already on the back foot when forward Eldor Shomurodov took advantage of hesitant defending by Evergrande's Zhang Linpeng on 35 minutes to lash the ball into the roof of the net for Uzbekistan, who are 89th in the Fifa rankings to China's 72nd.
Uzbekistan, soundly defeated 3-0 by Uruguay on Friday, were also the better team in the second half and should have extended their lead, but China-based substitute Odil Ahmedov headed straight at goalkeeper Yan Junling.
In the final, stand-in forward Cristhian Stuani scored his third goal in two games as Uruguay taught Thailand a footballing lesson to win the China Cup with a 4-0 victory.
The 2018 World Cup quarter-finalists hardly missed the injured star-striking duo of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani as they made it seven goals in two games.
Football: Man City come from two goals down to reach FA Cup
Real Madrid have lost Cristiano Ronaldo's goals but gained renewed desire - Sergio Ramos is one of many desperate to prove they don't need him to win Champions League again
They'll need every part of the side to be in form to emerge with two positive results and Mane can be key to any success thanks to being on top of his own game, says the boss. Indeed, Klopp
Jürgen Klopp: We're not finished, so let's play and see what
Limerick and Galway face test of credentials as early elimination threat looms Defeat would leave them on two points after three games, so the maximum they could reach with a win over
Premier League: How the 2014-15 season could unfold - BBC Sport
Football: AC Milan miss out on top-four finish in Serie A
After the annus horribilis that was 2017, the only way is up for Singapore football. So with the New Year upon us, here are five hopeful wishes for the local game in 2018. 1. Build a star overseas
Albirex Niigata sweep Singapore football awardsagain
Jorginho fired Chelsea to a 2-1 win at struggling Fulham on Sunday as Blues keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga began to make amends for his Wembley mutiny with an impressive display. Maurizio Sarri's side
As Jose Mourinho is sacked by Manchester United, we recall the highs and lows of his Old Trafford tenure. Mourinho leaves United after two and a half years in charge, his departure confirmed in
Jose Mourinho's highs and lows at Manchester United - Sportstar
Sergio Ramos and Alvaro Morata both scored penalties as Spain beat Sweden 3-0 on Monday to keep their perfect start to Euro 2020 qualifying intact. Spain in charge in qualifying quest after
Spain in charge in qualifying quest after beating - Cyprus
A Spanish court on Wednesday acquitted former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, who spent nearly two years in pre-trial custody, of money laundering. Rosell, his wife and four others, were accused of "large-scale money laundering" of close to EUR 20 million (USD 23 million) since 2006, relating to television rights and sponsorship deals in
Spain court acquits former Barcelona president of money
Football: China all but confirmed as 2023 Asian Cup hosts after South Korea withdraws (Reuters) - China was all but confirmed as the host nation of the next Asian Cup tournament in 2023 after the only other bidders South Korea withdrew from the process.
China all but confirmed as 2023 Asian Cup hosts after Korea
0 comments:
Post a Comment