Coach feels weight of expectations
文章来源: 文章作者: 发布时间:2007-06-08 00:32 字体: [ ]  进入论坛
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National men's soccer coach Zhu Guanghu knows he has to lead his under-fire team to a win over Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake tomorrow if he wants to keep his job.

In the first game of the team's American tour China were hammered 4-1 by the USA national team in San Jose, California, and with this defeat coming on the back of a woeful run, the knifes are out for the struggling coach.


China Olympic soccer team head coach Ratomir Dujkovic shakes hands with national team counterpart Zhu Guanghu in this 2006 Novermber 7 file phote taken during a joint1 training session in Guangzhou. [China Daily]

To make matters worse for Zhu, while his team floundered, the Olympic U-23 team under Ratomir Dujkovic continued their excellent run at the Toulon Soccer Tournament in France, beating Ghana 2-1 on Tuesday and advancing to the semifinals as group winners.

China Olympic soccer team head coach Ratomir Dujkovic shakes hands with national team counterpart Zhu Guanghu in this 2006 Novermber 7 file phote taken during a joint training session in Guangzhou. Wu Jun

"The national team's matches before the Asian Games are warm-ups and rehearsals2. But it does not mean we can lose matches in that way and accept all defeats," warned Nan Yong, vice3 president of the China Football Association (CFA), in an interview with Titan Sports.

"If we continue to lose, it is impossible for the players to gain any confidence ahead of the Asian Games."

Zhu took over the national team in March 2005 after their failure to qualify for last year's World Cup under predecessor4 Arie Haan. However, a string of disappointing performances has put him under immense pressure.

The team has suffered five losses and two draws in the last ten matches, conceding 18 goals and scoring 10.

Thailand defeat

Zhu's lowest moment came on May 16, when the team was beat by Thailand for the first time in 14 years. To make matters worse the same day the Olympic team beat Uruguay's highly-rated Olympic team.

"It is clear that the national team has not made any improvement and the tactics and style of play are still a mess under Zhu. Meanwhile, the Olympic team has played consistently by using sensible tactics and formations after just a short time with Dujkovic at the helm," Beijing Evening News said.

"Nobody is optimistic about the national team's prospects5 at the Asian Games. The matches under two coaches showed different qualities. It is all over for Zhu and his national team. It is up to the China Football Association to make the right decision and replace him as soon as possible," said a commentary in Titan Sports.

Adding to Zhu's misery6, he was described by one paper as a "clown" after the 4-1 hammering in San Jose, which came on the same day that the Olympic team defeated European power Holland 2-1.

Serbian coach Dujkovic, who led Ghana to the quarterfinals at the 2006 World Cup, said the team deserved the victory and had "showed their patriotism7".

Vice chairman of the CFA Xie Yalong could not hide his delight.

"I know some first choice players were not available, but the way these boys played you'd think they were the first choice," he told Titan Sports.

Ease the pressure

Zhu attempted to ease the pressure on himself and the players, saying a win is not far away.

"As a coach, I have to take responsibility for the defeats. But I believe we are always improving and it will not take long for us to win a match," he told media after the San Jose defeat.

"For the Asian Cup there are going to be changes, whether they be personnel or tactics," he said, "Certainly there will be no repeat of what happened in Bangkok."

Zhu also said the association has expressed confidence in his leadership.

He said he was told by Xie to do whatever was necessary in terms of reshuffling the side or changing tactics in order to improve the team's chances at July's Asian Cup in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.

But following the fan fury after the Bangkok debacle, the CFA has reportedly given Zhu an ultimatum8 for the Asian Cup: Reach the final four or face the sack.

However, Chinese media are speculating that Zhu will be fired no matter what happens in the tournament.

Zhu shrugged9 off the speculation10 and said he is focused on the tournament ahead.

"I know I will have no chance if the team doesn't play well during the Asian Games. So I will not think too much about the past results. My eyes are on the Asian Games."



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1 joint m3lx4     
adj.联合的,共同的;n.关节,接合处;v.连接,贴合
参考例句:
  • I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤,肩膀脫臼了。
  • We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。
2 rehearsals 58abf70ed0ce2d3ac723eb2d13c1c6b5     
n.练习( rehearsal的名词复数 );排练;复述;重复
参考例句:
  • The earlier protests had just been dress rehearsals for full-scale revolution. 早期的抗议仅仅是大革命开始前的预演。
  • She worked like a demon all through rehearsals. 她每次排演时始终精力过人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 vice NU0zQ     
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的
参考例句:
  • He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
  • They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。
4 predecessor qP9x0     
n.前辈,前任
参考例句:
  • It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
  • The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。
5 prospects fkVzpY     
n.希望,前途(恒为复数)
参考例句:
  • There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
  • They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。
6 misery G10yi     
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦
参考例句:
  • Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
  • He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
7 patriotism 63lzt     
n.爱国精神,爱国心,爱国主义
参考例句:
  • His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
  • They obtained money under the false pretenses of patriotism.他们以虚伪的爱国主义为借口获得金钱。
8 ultimatum qKqz7     
n.最后通牒
参考例句:
  • This time the proposal was couched as an ultimatum.这一次该提议是以最后通牒的形式提出来的。
  • The cabinet met today to discuss how to respond to the ultimatum.内阁今天开会商量如何应对这道最后通牒。
9 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀,什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩,装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 speculation 9vGwe     
n.思索,沉思;猜测;投机
参考例句:
  • Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
  • There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。
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