Pressure mounts on Camacho after China defeat
Jose Antonio Camacho has come under increasing pressure after China crashed out of World Cup qualifying and lost four friendlies since June last year, including an 8-0 drubbing by Brazil. They won just once.
Veteran Spanish coach Jose Antonio Camacho's tenure as China boss suffered another blow as his misfiring side were beaten 2-1 by Saudi Arabia in their opening 2015 Asian Cup qualifier.
The 57-year-old former Spain and Real Madrid coach has come under increasing pressure after China crashed out of World Cup qualifying and lost four friendlies since June last year, including an 8-0 drubbing by Brazil. They won just once.
The hosts took the lead through Fahad Al Muwallad in the 23rd minute only for China to level six minutes later as Guangzhou Evergrande midfielder Zhao Xuri shot home from the edge of the area after being set up by Yu Hanchao.
However, the visitors could not hold out and three-time champions Saudi took the points thanks to a goal by substitute Naif Hazzazi 13 minutes from time. China have reached the last 10 Asian Cup finals but with 2007 champions Iraq having begun with a 1-0 home win over Indonesia, they face a tough task to make it 11 in Australia. Camacho said: "We came to Saudi Arabia and we were hoping to get the three points, but unfortunately we were unlucky.
"We tried our best to win the match but we made some mistakes and we couldn't create chances to score goals like Saudi Arabia did.
We tried our best to win the match but we made some mistakes and we couldn't create chances to score goals like Saudi Arabia did
"In the second half we also made some mistakes. The players gave their best but things didn't go our way."