However, Ivan's statement suggests that he is not determined to take charge of the national soccer team. If the FA is determined to let him go, it will no doubt depend on their stance. Although Ivan has signed a multi-year contract with the federation, if he does leave, the federation will have to bear considerable financial losses, which is a harsh trade-off. With no apparent fault on Ivan's part, the FA may not be willing to take such a move lightly. But if the FA insists on pursuing results, then Ivan's dismissal seems predictable.
After Ivan failed to lead the national soccer team to a brilliant result, the People's Daily commented on the phenomenon, pointing out that the Chinese team suffered an unexpected setback in the midst of a great situation. Despite a good start, the team lacked tactical layout and flexibility to make adjustments, which led to Saudi Arabia reversing the situation and scoring consecutive points. After the People's Daily article was published, it triggered a heated debate among netizens, and Ivan will inevitably face more public pressure, while the FA will also face the thorny decision of whether or not to fire Ivan.
In fact, thinking about it another way, if Ivan does leave, will there really be a better coaching candidate for the national team? If the FA act decisively, Ivan's departure will be imminent, and a new coach could even take up his post in October. At that time, the new coaches could debut against Australia and show the public their coaching talents. Now, if Ivan steps down, there are three possible coaches: Zheng Zhi, Gao Hongbo, and Cannavaro. In terms of coaching experience, Cannavaro may be slightly better, but if the AFA prefers a local coach, then Gao Hongbo may well be the right person to be the next coach of the national football team!
