Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho received an unwanted birthday present in the shape of a plane ticket home as Brazil were knocked out of Copa America by a controversial goal by Peru.
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Failing to exit the group stages of the Copa America only heightens the pressure on the team that finished fourth in the World Cup which they were hosting. Here’s the goal that eliminated them from the tournament (roughly 2 minutes 26 seconds in).
The Liverpool man was among a host of Brazilians who protested the legality of Ruidiaz’s goal – and Dunga was in no doubt that it should have been denied.
Ecuador set up a quarterfinal showdown with the United States after romping to a comfortable 4-0 win over Haiti.
The favorite to replace Dunga is 55-year-old Corinthians coach Tite, who guided the Sao Paulo club to last year’s Brazilian Serie A title.
The CBF had yet to announce Dunga’s successor on Tuesday afternoon, however.
“The CBF (Brazilian football confederation) has called a meeting with Dunga and is likely to sack him”, the Estado de S.Paulo newspaper said.
“I am only afraid of death”, Dunga told reporters in the wake of Sunday’s defeat.
Television pictures showed Ruidiaz grinning after the goal had been awarded and Brazil players apoplectic at a decision that sent them tumbling out of the tournament before the knockout stages for the first time since 1987.
Dunga, a former midfielder, had previously been a World Cup-winning captain in 1994, as well as a runner up in the next tournament in 1998. And yes, its Copa America roster – losing talisman Neymar to the Olympics along with stalwarts Thiago Silva and others to coach’s preference – is decidedly watered down.
But the side failed to regain their shine during his second term in charge.
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Brazil are also in a precarious position in South American qualifying for the World Cup in Russian Federation in two years’ time.
