Costa Rica s run to the second round in Italia 90 was completely unexpected as was the American achievement at home. France 98 might be considered a failure of sorts because Nigeria underachieved, but the way the Super Eagles have struggled since then suggests that Bora may have gotten more from the side than it appeared three years ago. There is doubtless more pressure on Bora this stay in China. You can easily imagine how badly the Chinese want to be part of the first Asian World Cup, especially since it is hosted by countries that have not always been on the best political terms with the Beijing government. Beyond that, getting to the finals is the mark that your game has made it at the global level.
Chinese soccer needs that badly for their game to progress at the club level.
When we saw Bora s China back in Oakland last January we got a mixed impression. His players were dynamically athletic, but they lacked the technical skill to be called top class. Stranger, China looked disorganized, hardly a chacarteristic of Milutinovic teams. Likely Bora was simply experimenting. Her certainly must have learned that a few of his players had limitations in the roles assigned at Oakland.