Copa America: Five reasons Dunga's Brazil crashed out

Sport360 staff 05:25 14/06/2016
Maligned: Dunga.

The last time Brazil fell to defeat against Peru was in 1985, but after 31 years of dominance the selecao were ejected from the 2016 Copa America by their less-illustrious neighbours in controversial style on Sunday night.

While there was more than a hint of handball about the goal which sealed Brazil’s fate, the failure to progress from a group which also involved Ecuador and Haiti was a new low in the recent history of football’s most decorated national team.

For that failure, head coach Dunga will almost certainly fall on his sword.

But where did things all go wrong for Brazil in the USA?

Lack of star quality

As we witnessed two years ago, a Brazil team with Neymar is considerably better than one without him. What’s more, the Barcelona star has improved his game since 2014. Except, the Olympics are the priority for the CBF with the Games taking place on home soil and Neymar was only going to play in one tournament.

In defence, no Thiago Silva or David Luiz left an obvious void, not just on the field but in the dressing room with their experience and character vital. Dunga’s backline was made up of veterans and players in their early 20s with precious little international experience.

Confidence

It’s become cliche to reference it but Brazil are still not over their failure at the World Cup and the knock-on effect it’s had in terms of the country’s faith in the national team.

There are other factors, such as the perceived brand of football they are playing, but there’s little love for the Selecao and that has been transmitted to the players, who aren’t 100 per cent sure of themselves whenever they step onto the field, through a mixture of the pressure to perform and change perceptions plus overall uncertainty.

Brazil were once able to play with a languid and laissez faire freedom on the field but they currently operate in some kind of a mental straight jacket. It’ll take time, and some excellent coaching, to turn things around.

No attacking threat

With no Neymar, Brazil’s forward play was perhaps their most alarming aspect. Placed in the easiest of the four Copa America groups, bar the 7-1 thrashing of Haiti – ranked 119 in the world – they failed to trouble fairly average opponents in Peru and Ecuador.

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Dunga’s options were limited, with one-dimesional battering ram Hulk, Jonas – who enjoyed a fine season with Benfica but, at 32, lacks international pedigree – and teenager Gabriel; the 19-year-old becoming their best goal hope, which was an unfair expectation.

Dunga’s tactics

Forever at odds with the idea of ‘Jogo Bonita’, Dunga now looks even more a relic than he did before the tournament kicked off.

Granted, the Selecao only conceded two goals as they were eliminated, staying true to his defensive approach, but when you’re being pragmatic if you’re not securing results you’re leaving yourself open to criticism, especially as manager of Brazil.

Had they gone out in a blaze of glory, it might have provided some solace as at least it would have been entertaining. Instead, the negativity has only sought to suck the joy out of the national team and only increased the growing apathy back home.

Organisational issues

The FIFA scandal of last year arguably resonated the most in Brazil with the population still angry at the cost of the 2014 World Cup amid a period of economic strife plus corruption within the CBF, with former presidents Jose Maria Marin and Marco Polo Del Negro both indicted.

Given the recovery of the national side was entrusted in the hands of such individuals there’s no great surprise at the struggle they’re currently going through.

Brazil, as a country, will always produce great footballers. The problem is that’s allowed the CBF to grow lazy and not proactively invest in youth development to ensure that the talent pool is strong and wide.

Again, it’s a problem that will take time to fix.

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