Brazil defeat leaves president, media seething

By Stuart Grudgings
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Brazil’s president voiced his anger over a humiliating Olympic soccer defeat to arch-rivals Argentina and newspapers called for coach Dunga’s dismissal on Wednesday.
The influential Globo newspaper simply filled its front Olympic page with a tombstone and a mock obituary in a plea for an end to Dunga’s two-year tenure, in which Tuesday’s 3-0 loss was the latest in a series of lifeless performances.
“Brazilian football, five-time world champions, informs of the death of Dunga’s team yesterday in Beijing, China,” Globo said.
It said the funeral Mass would be held on Friday, referring to Brazil’s bronze-medal contest against Belgium. “Don’t bring flowers.”
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, according to local media, told lawmakers at a meeting on Tuesday that the team were “embarrassing” and that he had “never been so angry”, not even when his favourite Corinthians club team were at their worst.
Despite some unlucky moments in the semi-final, newspapers put the blame squarely on underperforming stars like Ronaldinho and on a defensive style that Dunga has imposed on a nation known for its footballing flamboyance.
‘PAY DEARLY’
“Dunga could pay dearly for his proposal of pragmatic football, defensive, without brilliance,” said the Estado De Sao Paulo.
Globo said Dunga, a former World Cup captain, had betrayed the Brazilian and Olympic spirit with his negative approach in the tournament for under-23s with three over-aged players allowed in each team.
It said the world was justifiably bewildered at seeing a Brazilian side play without flair, failing to mark attackers and having two players sent off for dirty play.