Camacho under pressure to end skid
Source: AFP |
February 6, 2013, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
JOSE Antonio Camacho leads misfiring China into 2015 Asian Cup qualifying today under pressure to end a run of poor results and avoid becoming Asia's latest coaching casualty.
Camacho's lofty CV includes stints with Real Madrid and Spain, but the Spaniard has work to do, starting against Saudi Arabia in Dammam, if he wants to avoid joining Zico and Frank Rijkaard on Asia's list of discarded coaches.
The Spaniard signed a lucrative deal in August 2011 but China crashed out of World Cup qualifying just three months later. Since June last year it has lost four friendlies, winning just once.
Last week there were howls from Chinese media after the national team lost 0-1 to an under-strength Oman.
Now, 18 months into Camacho's reign, China takes to the field at Dammam's Prince Mohammed Bin Fahad Stadium with the coach's future in the balance.
"Camacho is being paid very well but the team's results under him have not been as good as they were under his predecessor Gao Hongbo," said Zhao Zhen, of China's weekly Soccer News.
"The CFA's (China Football Association) minimum target is to qualify for Australia so it will be very important to see something positive in the first two games of the qualifiers."
China has been placed in a tough Group C alongside the Saudis and 2007 champion Iraq, but failing to qualify for the competition in Australia would be a disaster after it reached the final rounds of the past 10 editions.
With the top three from the 2011 tournament - Japan, Australia and South Korea - given automatic spots, the two best teams from each of five qualifying groups, along with the best third-placed side, gain entry.
Recent months have seen some big names depart Asia after Iraq dropped Brazilian legend Zico in November, and the Saudis dumped Rijkaard in January after he failed to steer them past the group phase of the Gulf Cup of Nations.
Camacho's lofty CV includes stints with Real Madrid and Spain, but the Spaniard has work to do, starting against Saudi Arabia in Dammam, if he wants to avoid joining Zico and Frank Rijkaard on Asia's list of discarded coaches.
The Spaniard signed a lucrative deal in August 2011 but China crashed out of World Cup qualifying just three months later. Since June last year it has lost four friendlies, winning just once.
Last week there were howls from Chinese media after the national team lost 0-1 to an under-strength Oman.
Now, 18 months into Camacho's reign, China takes to the field at Dammam's Prince Mohammed Bin Fahad Stadium with the coach's future in the balance.
"Camacho is being paid very well but the team's results under him have not been as good as they were under his predecessor Gao Hongbo," said Zhao Zhen, of China's weekly Soccer News.
"The CFA's (China Football Association) minimum target is to qualify for Australia so it will be very important to see something positive in the first two games of the qualifiers."
China has been placed in a tough Group C alongside the Saudis and 2007 champion Iraq, but failing to qualify for the competition in Australia would be a disaster after it reached the final rounds of the past 10 editions.
With the top three from the 2011 tournament - Japan, Australia and South Korea - given automatic spots, the two best teams from each of five qualifying groups, along with the best third-placed side, gain entry.
Recent months have seen some big names depart Asia after Iraq dropped Brazilian legend Zico in November, and the Saudis dumped Rijkaard in January after he failed to steer them past the group phase of the Gulf Cup of Nations.
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