Brazil legend Rivaldo has slammed the selection process for the national team following their early Copa America exit.
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Dunga’s men crashed out of the tournament when they lost to Paraguay on penalties at the quarterfinal stage, sparking criticism back home regarding their style of play and how they lack creativity when Neymar is not in the team.
The inclusion of players such as Everton Ribeiro and Diego Tardelli – who play in UAE and China, respectively – seem to have rubbed Rivaldo the wrong way as he suggested that the selection process has regressed since his omission from World Cup 2006.
“On Tuesday it was 13 years since Brazil won its fifth World Cup. I will never forget that moment,” the 43-year-old said. “But nowadays it seems that any player can be called to the national team. I remember that in 2006 I wasn’t called to the World Cup because I was playing club football in Greece.
“This was even though I was rated as the best player of the league on two occasions and it is a much more prestigious league than the ones where some of the current Brazil players are playing.
“If the state of affairs continues like this, our national team will end up going over 30 years without being champions. Please, can we call up better players because, if we don’t, we will be ashamed again.
“I prefer to stay silent and not say anything but this time I couldn’t keep quiet because things are really ugly right now as a country.”
