China's new head coach Fabio Cannavaro (L) gestures during the 2019 China Cup football match between China and Thailand in Nanning, in China's southern Guangxi region, on March 21, 2019. China OUT / AFP / STR
NANNING, China: Fabio Cannavaro's first game as coach of China ended in a 1-0 loss to Thailand in the opening match of the four-nation China Cup on Thursday.
The Italian great, who also coaches Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande, succeeded Marcello Lippi as national team coach this month.
Chanathip Songkrasin scored the lone goal in the first half to give Thailand the victory.
Cannavaro, who captained Italy to the 2006 World Cup title, will get another chance for a win on Monday against either Uruguay or Uzbekistan. But he has said he is unsure how long he will stay in charge of the national team once the China Cup is over.
