Ivan's statement this time actually reveals that his desire for the national soccer team's position is not as strong as the outside world thinks. If the FA insists on his departure, it will depend on the attitude of the FA. But given that Ivan has signed a contract with the FA for several years, if he really wants to go, the FA is afraid that he will have to suffer a lot of losses. This is certainly a heavy price to pay, after all, Ivan is not a major fault, the FA may not be willing to easily adopt this option. However, if the FA focuses on performance, Ivan's dismissal seems reasonable.
China's national soccer team failed to create glory under Ivan's leadership, and People's Daily reported on this phenomenon, pointing out that our team suffered a defeat in spite of a great situation. After a seemingly smooth start, the team failed to make any tactical adjustments, eventually allowing Saudi Arabia to achieve a reversal, grabbing two consecutive points. The article in the People's Daily sparked heated debates among netizens, and Ivan will undoubtedly be subjected to greater public pressure, while the Football Association will also be faced with the decision of whether or not to fire Ivan.
On the flip side, if Ivan does leave, will there really be a more suitable coaching candidate for the national team? In fact, if the FA act decisively, Ivan will soon be sacked and a new coach could even be in place as early as October. By then, the new head coach could make an appearance against Australia to show the crowd their coaching talents. Now, if Ivan steps down, possible successors include Zheng Zhi, Gao Hongbo, and Cannavaro. Of the three, Cannavaro may have the edge in terms of coaching experience, but if the AFA prefers to go with a homegrown coach, then Gao Hongbo is likely to be the next head coach of the national team!
