Copa America 2016: Brazil Failure Results in Dunga's Firing
The Brazilian soccer federation has relieved Dunga of his duties following the team's shocking ouster at the Copa America tournament at the hands of Peru.
The firing abruptly ends Dunga's second run as manager of the five-time World Cup winners. Brazil managed just one win in Copa America Group B play amid a field that included Peru, Ecuador and Haiti.
That signaled the beginning of the end for the 52-year-old Dunga, who won the 1994 World Cup as a player, and the 2007 Copa America and 2009 Confederations Cup as manager.
Brazil Struggling Across the Board
Still, there's no denying his second stint as signal caller has been filled with strife. In addition to the colossal Copa America failure, Brazil also lags in sixth place in CONMEBOL.
Expected to take over for Dunga is Corinthians manager Tite, who has won a Copa Libertadores and a Club World Cup with the Sao Paulo-based squad.
The early group stage exit marked the first time in nearly three decades that Brazil has failed to get out of the first round in a major tournament.
Neymar Missed
In retrospect, the handwriting may have been on the wall even before the team took the field. Management inexplicably decided to leave Neymar home for the tournament, presumably so he could prepare for this summer's Olympic Games in Rio.
The void of not having one of the world's top players proved too much, especially on offense where the team clearly lacked depth and cohesion.
Not helping matters was Douglas Costa being sidelined for the tournament by injury, not to mention his probable replacement Kaka.
Neymar had expressed a desire to compete in both Copa America and the Olympics, but in the end the decision not to be on hand for Copa was made for him.
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