Brazil sack coach Dunga

Brazil coach Dunga was sacked yesterday following the team's World Cup quarter-final exit with charismatic Luiz Felipe Scolari, who won the title in 2002, immediately being tipped to take over.

"The cycle of work started in 2006 and which culminated with the elimination of Brazil in the World Cup in South Africa is finished," said a statement from the Brazilian football confederation (CBF).

"The CBF announces the dismissal of the technical commission of the Brazilian team. The new commission will be announced at the end of July."

Dunga, 46, who skippered Brazil to the 1994 World Cup, had been national team coach since 2006.

He had already said that he was intending to step down after four years following the five-time champions' 2-1 defeat to Holland in the quarter-finals in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

However, on his arrival home on Sunday, Dunga did not rule out staying in the job.

"I am going to rest before meeting, in one or two weeks' time, the president of the CBF, Ricardo Teixeira to talk about it (extending his stay in charge)," Dunga told a news conference before the CBF quickly shattered his optimism.

Brazilian media immediately started speculating on the identity of Dunga's successor whose job will be guiding the team on home soil at 2014 World Cup.

The favourite is Scolari, who won the World Cup in 2002, although he has ruled himself out saying he intends to honour his contract with Palmeiras which runs until 2012.

"I have a contract with Palmeiras and it is here that I am going to work," Scolari told El Dorado radio.

"It would be great to finish my career coaching a team at the World Cup to be staged in Brazil, but I cannot respond to any offer until after 2012."

Other names being mentioned are Mano Menezes, currently coach at Corinthians, and ex- Milan boss Leonardo.

Jorginho, who was Dunga's assistant in South Africa, is also believed to be in the running.

Brazilian players were met with insults and pushing and shoving from angry fans amid a welter of recriminations for their poor World Cup showing when they arrived in Rio late on Sunday.

Aside from Dunga, the target for much of their ire was Felipe Melo, who deflected in Wesley Sneijder's opener for the Dutch and then got himself sent off.

Reports said Kaka, who failed to shine at the World Cup, was not properly fit.

Kaka came into the tournament on the back of a disappointing season with Real Madrid which was marred by thigh problems that forced him to miss more than six weeks of the season.

"I suffered a lot since I got injured," Kaka told journalists at the airport.

Fans were not impressed though and whistles and jeers were aimed in his direction at the airport on Sunday.

"They did it in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with Milan ... it happens to all players. The fans are very emotional," he said.

Kaka failed to score in the World Cup and was also red-carded in the group win over Ivory Coast.