DUNGA RESIGNS AS BRAZIL COACH
Baku, July 3 (AZERTAC). Dunga announced that he will step down as coach of Brazil after the South Americans were knocked out of the World Cup 2010 quarterfinals by Holland in one of the shocks of the tournament.
The Selecao had gone into the lead after just ten minutes when Robinho finished off a spectacular pass from Felipe Melo, only for the midfielder to equalise for the Dutch with an own goal before Wesley Sneijder headed in the winner for the Netherlands in a 2-1 result. Melo was later sent off for a stamp on Dutch winger Arjen Robben.
Dunga had gone into the finals with confidence after leading his country to victories in all the major competitions during his tenure. However, the manager was adamant that having previously said his term was only for four years leading up to the 2010 World Cup, he will not be seeking an extension to add to his 2007 Copa America and 2009 Confederations Cup success.
“We knew when I started that I would be here for four years,” Dunga said. “It`s sad, it`s difficult, nobody prepares to lose.
“We were not able to maintain the same rhythm in the second half. If you play with only ten players against a quality team like Holland then it makes it difficult. Without a shadow of a doubt, I am the coach of the Brazilian team, I have the greatest responsibility.”
Midfielder Melo, who endured a difficult start to his Juventus career, refused to be the country`s scapegoat for the defeat, claiming that the team loses as a unit: “There`s no way I`m the villain of the 2010 World Cup. It was a collective mistake. When I was sent off, it was already 2-1… I accept my share of the blame. I apologise to the Brazilian fans because we wanted to be world champions and it didn`t work out.”
Goalkeeper Julio Cesar - increasingly called the world`s best goalkeeper after his stellar displays with Inter Milan - was culpable for the Dutch equaliser when failing to clear Sneijder`s cross after committing himself, said that while they failed in their target to win the tournament, the team could still be proud of their effort: “It`s not the end of the world. I just think now we have to leave with our heads held high. In Brazil people always put a lot of pressure on us. This was a result no one expected. Every game Brazil enters, we enter to win.”
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