Dunga s Poor Judgment in Not Calling up Experienced Players Sums up Brazil s Copa Exit

Brazil exited the Copa America Centenario on Sunday much to the surprise of many football fans. Their last group game against Peru proved to be the decider as a win for both sides would give them the ticket to the next face of the competition.

A handball or the hand of God returned 30 years on but this time not for Argentina but Peru.

Brazil head coach Carlos Dunga has always made the headlines for the squads he presents to tournaments and the squad he presented at the 2016 Copa America Centenario was no exception to that fact. The call-up of inexperienced players was a way to create a new team but it proved futile and here is an analysis into why it failed.

Brazil Needed the Last Group Game to Advance to the Quarters

Brazil is a team that uses their last matches at the group stage of tournaments to feature new players who made the cut into the final 23-man squad.

A squad that had the likes of Thiago Silva who has made the last three editions of the FIFPRO World XI, Marcelo who just won the Champions League again with Real Madrid, David Luis and Roberto Firmino who played in the Europa League final would have sealed off a place in the quarters with this final game loss to Peru as a game to spare.

Brazil was not poor but looked like a team in transition against Ecuador in their opening fixture.

Seasonal stars are the ones who are known as celebrities and Brazil did not have the stars to prove their worth and that is why they have been released off lists on guests who were called for the celebration of the Copa America Centenario.

Dunga, Neymar and the Rio Olympics

Dunga would coach Brazil’s U-23 at the Olympic Games. Brazil has never won gold at the Olympics on the event of Men’s Football. Brazil has always had the stars to win having made numerous finals with the last one coming at the 2012 Olympics where they lost to Mexico in the final.

Neymar Jr. was not allowed to feature at the Copa America Centenario because he would be competing for gold at the Olympics. Neymar played at the Olympic Games in 2012 but did Brazil win?

The games between Ecuador and Peru showed the Brazil needed seasoned stars such as Neymar because they could create all the chances but couldn’t find anyone to add the final touch.

Brazil created opportunities that were not clear-cut chances but Neymar’s presence would have resulted in a different story being told by tabloids worldwide.

What is left of Brazil is to win the gold at the Olympics because that was what they rested their talisman for.

Aside the Rio Olympics they are off the Confederations Cup in 2017 having won the last three editions in 2005, 2009 and 2013 and only have the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia in sight.