The former World Cup-winning midfielder is not helping his team with his pragmatic approach and if he stays in charge, the decline will surely continue
Another year, another failure for Brazil's once-fantastic football team. After the humiliation of losing 7-1 at home to Germany in last year's World Cup, the Selecao have been knocked out of the Copa America on penalties by Paraguay for the second successive edition of the continental competition. And they deserved little better.
Robinho's early goal looked enough for most of a sterile showdown in Concepcion on Saturday, but Brazil created virtually nothing else of note and after Derlis Gonzalez levelled from the spot following a needless handball by Thiago Silva, Paraguay played the better football.
The Albirroja went on to repeat their shootout success from the 2011 Copa and remain unbeaten in this Copa, but Brazil really should be capable of better against one of the continent's smaller sides.
Dunga was often criticised as a footballer for what was perceived as a primitive playing style. A rugged, no-nonsense ball-winner with little flair, he was considered the most "un-Brazilian" of players. And even when he captained his country to a World Cup win in 1994, it was as part of a team more pragmatic than pretty.
Now he is coach of a most "un-Brazilian" of teams. His defensive-minded approach has won him more enemies than friends in his homeland and even though he enjoyed some success in his first term in charge (Brazil won the 2007 Copa and the Confederations Cup in 2009), criticism came once again as the Selecao succumbed against Netherlands at the World Cup in 2010.
He had better players then, but he doesn't have them now. Deprived of the suspended Neymar for the last few games at this Copa, as well as the injured Danilo, Marcelo and Luiz Gustavo, this was a test of Dunga's coaching abilities. But he didn't deliver.
While his friend Ramon Diaz has worked wonders with a limited Paraguay side that has punched above its weight in this tournament, Dunga's side have looked lost most of the time. The famous jogo bonito is long gone, but this team lacks ideas in possession and that is nothing new.
For far too long now, Brazil have relied on individual talent. And without players of that calibre, there is no pertinent plan, no project, no process. That is down to the coach and defending is only part of the game.
Dunga worked well with Brazil as a player because he was surrounded by top talents like Romario and Bebeto who could win matches with a moment of inspiration or brilliance. But this generation has only one such star, Neymar, and even with the Barcelona forward around, this team is restricted by their stubborn coach.
And if he remains in charge until the 2018 World Cup, the decline will surely continue.
He had better players then, but he doesn't have them now. Deprived of the suspended Neymar for the last few games at this Copa, as well as the injured Danilo, Marcelo and Luiz Gustavo, this was a test of Dunga's coaching abilities. But he didn't deliver.
While his friend Ramon Diaz has worked wonders with a limited Paraguay side that has punched above its weight in this tournament, Dunga's side have looked lost most of the time. The famous jogo bonito is long gone, but this team lacks ideas in possession and that is nothing new.
For far too long now, Brazil have relied on individual talent. And without players of that calibre, there is no pertinent plan, no project, no process. That is down to the coach and defending is only part of the game.
Dunga worked well with Brazil as a player because he was surrounded by top talents like Romario and Bebeto who could win matches with a moment of inspiration or brilliance. But this generation has only one such star, Neymar, and even with the Barcelona forward around, this team is restricted by their stubborn coach.
And if he remains in charge until the 2018 World Cup, the decline will surely continue.
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