FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Following Brazil's shock elimination from the Copa America Centenario on Sunday evening, head coach Dunga had to face the media. And they weren't exactly kind.
The 1994 World Cup winner's tactics, strategy and future were topics raised constantly throughout the press conference following the Seleçao's 1-0 loss to Peru, which sealed their Copa America fate.
Perhaps the most immediate question from the media present was regarding Dunga's using only one of his three available substitutes, even after Brazil went down a goal in the 75th minute. It's not the first time he's faced this particular criticism, as at least one member of the Brazilian media pointed out on Sunday – he also did not use his full allotment of substitutes in Brazil's 2-1 loss to the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals, which cost him his job during his first spell coaching the team.
“I didn’t make changes because the team was working well, we tried to add a lot more power, we were creating chances,” the coach told reporters after the loss to Peru.
In contrast to the fans’ sentiment, Dunga also seemed pleased with his team’s performance.
“In the first half we had good combination play, what was missing was to decide the game with the chances we created,” Dunga said. “We knew that Peru was going to play for a one-goal game, to try for a set play, a counter-attack, we tried to neutralize that.”
Brazil did dominate possession, and put five shots on target, though often looked labored doing so. Their best chance of the night came in the 26th minute, when promising forward Gabriel connected on a turn and shot from close range, only to be expertly denied by Peru 'keeper Pedro Gallese.
Regarding the possibility that his coaching future might be in jeopardy, Dunga acknowledged that there is increased pressure.
“Logically when there is a loss, there’s always a cost but I’m also sure that the fans saw that the game, especially the first half, and saw how Brazil was eliminated,” Dunga answered initially.
But he made it very clear that he does not fear losing the job, saying that, “there is only one thing that I fear and that’s death, that’s the only thing I fear. It’s a job, we’re trying. After the World Cup, we rebuilt. We gave Germany 14 years and in Brazil in one or two years we want everything to be resolved easily.”
Dunga’s confidence comes from apparently knowing that the Brazilian Federation remains supportive and he readily concedes that pressure came with the territory when he assumed the position.
“The President knows what we’re doing, how we’re working, we know about the demands, how we’re exposed to criticism, so when you work for the Brazilian national team you have to know that the criticism, when the results don’t come, tends to increase,” he explained. “But what’s important is that on the inside we know what we’re doing.”
