Camacho reeling after 'terrible' 8-0 loss

Brazilian soccer player Neymar (right) heads the ball as China's Tang Miao looks on during their friendly match at the Arruda stadium in Recife, northern Brazil, on Monday. Brazil won 8-0, giving China its worst loss since it was defeated by Austria, 11-0, in 1936. China had only two chances on goal in the game. Antonio Scorza / Agence France-Presse

There's always the risk of tarnishing one's image by taking over China's national soccer team.

Jose Camacho has become the latest coach to suffer this fate. The former Spanish national coach was shocked and stunned as he saw his Chinese team suffer a humiliating 8-0 defeat by Brazil on Monday.

It is the biggest loss China has suffered in international competitions since it was crushed 11-0 by Austria in 1936.

"It's a terrible result. It's like a table tennis score between China and Brazil," said a comment from the nation's leading portal, Sina.com.

"Such kinds of games are meaningless for the national team. It will deal a further blow to our players' confidence."

China did not send out its best players as some were injured and others on the Guangzhou Evergrande side were left out because they have to play next week in the AFC Champions League.

But there was still overwhelming criticism on the internet of the sport's governing body's lack of effort over the past decade.

The Chinese, who have played only one World Cup - in 2002 - and are already out of the Asian qualifiers for Brazil 2014, are ranked 78th in the world, while five-time world champion Brazil is 12th.

At its sole World Cup, China was beaten 4-0 by Brazil in a group match.

"After 10 years, what we can see is the expanding gap between China and the world's top teams. Look at our neighbors Japan and South Korea, I feel ashamed," a fan named Lu Bin commented on Sina.com.

For Brazil, it was a scoring party that appeased home fans who had jeered its poor display against South Africa last week.

The northeast of Brazil, and Recife in particular, has traditionally given the team strong support in hard times, so there was no better place for Mano Menezes's beleaguered side to come than the Arruda stadium.

After losing the London Olympics final to Mexico last month, Brazil was jeered during the unconvincing 1-0 win over South Africa in Sao Paulo on Friday.

At the end of Monday's match, Brazil's players gathered in the middle of the pitch to thank the fans for their renewed support.

"That's the connection we have to have with the fans. We know what we must improve, but without them we can't improve," right back Daniel Alves said.

"With their help it's all going to be easier. The Brazil team belongs to us all and if we have that connection the results will come," he said as he left the pitch.

China only managed two chances on goal, the best a header from Zhang Yuan from a corner that goalkeeper Diego Alves kept out with a fine reflex save.

(China Daily 09/12/2012 page22)