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Doha (AFP) – Tite confirmed that it was “the end of an era” for him as coach of the Brazilian national team, after the painful exit of the “samba dancers” on penalties against Croatia in the quarter-finals on Friday of the World Cup in Qatar.
The 61-year-old coach, who has assumed his technical duties with “Seleção” since 2016, did not hide his intention to relinquish his position after the Qatar World Cup, regardless of the outcome.
“It’s a painful defeat, but I’m leaving in peace. It’s the end of an era,” he told reporters, after Brazil lost at the Education City Stadium in Doha to the runners-up of the 2018 World Cup on penalties, 4-2 (1-1 in regular and extra time).
“I already said that a year and a half ago. I didn’t come here to win and then turn around and say I’m staying. People who know me know that.”
After 90 minutes without goals, Brazil advanced through Neymar at the end of the first extra period, only for Bruno Petkovic to equalize for Croatia in the 117th minute.
The Croatian national team scored four consecutive kicks, to reach the semi-finals, after Marquinhos’ kick was saved by the post.
This is the second time that Tite has been knocked out of the World Cup, as he had previously failed 1-2 against Belgium in the quarter-finals four years ago.
In compensation that did not live up to the hopes of the Brazilian fans and the dream of winning a sixth star in the World Cup, the “samba dancers” won the Copa America on their land in 2019, before losing last year’s final as a host also to the historic enemy Argentina and its star Messi, 0-1.
The Brazilian Football Confederation had said earlier that it would not reveal the identity of its next coach until January.
In response to a question to assess his tenure at the helm of the national team, he said, “In time I will be able to respond better. I am not in a position now to assess all the work we have done, but with time you will be able to make this assessment.”
“I don’t have the power to do that now that we’re out,” he added.
Asked why it was not decided that Neymar would take the fourth penalty kick instead of Marquinhos when Brazil had to score to keep their hopes alive, Tite said, “Because he should have taken the decisive fifth kick.”
“The player with the most quality and the best mental state advances when there is the most pressure.”
Neymar did not have a chance to shoot a penalty kick after equaling Pele’s record earlier with his 77th goal for his country when he opened the scoring in extra time.
This is the second time that Brazil has lost on penalties in the World Cup, after it fell to France in the quarter-finals in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
“When you lead 1-0 in extra time and then concede the equalizer 13 minutes into the second half of extra time, it’s difficult,” Tite said of his team’s mental state as they took penalties.
“It’s hard to stay mentally strong in a situation like this,” he concluded.
© 2022 AFP