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The head coach of Brazil’s national soccer team, Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri, or simply Dunga, is not the right man to lead the team, Brazilian legend Zico has claimed.
In an interview with Marca, the 62-year-old former player, known as the “White Pele,” said that Dunga, who returned to the post in July 2014 after a four-year break, had missed a key opportunity in the World Cup 2010 in South Africa when they bowed out in the quarterfinals to Holland.
“I don’t have anything against Dunga, but he is not what was hoped for by the Seleçao (Brazil’s national team). He already had his opportunity in the World Cup 2010 and has not been in clubs to deserve to come back,” Zico said.
“He has his way of seeing soccer and has obtained some good results in friendlies, but in the official games Dunga has not convinced and shown good play,” he added.
The formerly mighty Brazil — the most successful team ever in the World Cup with five titles — has had patchy results in the last year, reaching the quarterfinals in this year’s Copa America, and a shock 2-0 loss to Chile in the first qualifier for the World Cup Russia 2018.
The second qualifier Brazil came back for a 3-1 victory over Venezuela, though commentators, including former star Tostao, have noted that it is possible that Brazil may not qualifier for the FIFA championships.
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According to Zico, this slip is down to players losing their love for the sport by going to play in other countries.
“The majority of the players in the Seleção leave Brazilian soccer quickly and so lose the true identity of our game. They go to play in other countries with different cultures and they lose the happiness and passion of playing in the Brazilian way,” he said.
On Nov. 12, Dunga has the chance to redeem himself as Brazil faces Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Elsewhere in South American soccer, Uruguay’s national soccer association said that it will offer the maximum security to Chile when the team visits Montevideo on Nov. 17 in the region’s World Cup qualifier, as the clash promises to be tense after a controversy between the two sides during the Copa America 2015.
“We are working on the operation to prevent whatever disturbance,” executive committee member Ignacio Alonso said.
“Whoever wants to cause trouble can stay at home, as there will be no space for violence.”
Animosity between the two sides was sparked this year in the quarterfinals of Copa America, when hosts Chile grabbed a 1-0 victory.
The controversy began when Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani was sent off for his attacking rival defender Gonzalo Jara. Footage later revealed that Jara had provoked Cavani by inserting a finger in his opponent’s back side. Cavani was handed a two-match ban for reacting on top of the red card.
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