'No magic in five days' – Cannavaro tastes defeat in first game as China manager
Fabio Cannavaro once claimed that the results of two matches at the China Cup can't be used to assess his performance as China's new head coach. However, this hasn't stopped fans from being skeptical following China's 1-0 home loss to Thailand at the China Cup opener on Friday.
The "Thai Messi" Chanathip Songkrasin slotted a pass into the net in the 33rd minute, which in fact sealed the victory for the visiting side.
The loss means China has no chance for the final, and will play the loser of the meeting between Uzbekistan and Uruguay on Saturday in the third-place playoff of the four-team annual event.
"I have nothing to show now as I can change nothing during four or five days with the national team," Cannavaro admitted, hardly hiding his disappointment after an inauspicious start before 4,000 fans in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
"There is no magic in five days," he stressed.
Chanathip Songkrasin's (C) first-half scores Thailand's only goal for a 1-0 win over China in the China Cup International Football Championship in Nanning, south China, March 21, 2019. /VCG Photo
Chinese football fans may be remembering when the team, lead by former Spanish coach Camacho, suffered a humiliating 1-5 loss to Thailand in a friendly at home in June 2013. The shock defeat provoked more than the usual share of anger over the performance of the Chinese national team.
Earlier this year, the Chinese team redeemed themselves. Marcello Lippi's China side came from behind to overcome Thailand 2-1 in an Asian Cup round-of-16 clash, to reach the last eight. After that victory, the China Cup loss to Thailand was both frustrating and bitter.
"What I saw today has confirmed my judgment in Asian Cup. China have a huge investment in football while the point is more than the tactics in the field. We should try to set up a system and develop the football in the long run," said Cannavaro.
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has not made it clear if it was a permanent or temporary role for the Italian. If Cannavaro makes it beyond the next match, he has an arduous task ahead of him. China, who has sights set on the Qatar 2022 World Cup, will begin qualifying matches in September.
"People think I am too young and lack experience, but I had a career as an Italian national player for 15 years, I played six finals with Italy and won four of them."
"I know far more about major international tournaments than those who have criticized me," he added.