The Brazil coach, feeling the weight of a nation, stepped up to take a decisive penalty in Pasadena 22 years ago, and now returns to the Rose Bowl in familiar circumstances
PASADENA, Calif. — It was somewhat unusual for a Brazil press conference to begin with a question from a media officer, sat immediately to the right of embattled coach Dunga, but it did at least set the tone for a laid-back affair at the Rose Bowl.
Dunga heads into this Copa America Centenario with little credit in the bank, but he answered the questions that came his way with more assurance than could be expected of a man currently failing to live up to the expectations of a nation that demands both success and style. His demeanor was aided, no doubt, by being asked to recall his pivotal role in Brazil's dramatic 1994 World Cup triumph in this very arena.
"On arrival we remembered everything," he opened. "The route to the hotel, arriving at the stadium, playing at noon, overtime, adrenaline, pressure... that's normal for Brazil, a unique pressure. Even today when I saw myself taking the penalty I questioned whether it was actually me. I asked from where we would draw the courage to take a penalty at a World Cup. Even more so after 90 minutes, knowing if I failed I could not go back to Brazil."
Perhaps that final line is a more adequate tone for the coming weeks. The man who kept his cool - in front of 94,000 people - to send Gianluca Pagliuca the wrong way and pile the pressure on Roberto Baggio is now under pressure himself. Since being hired, somewhat implausibly, by a Brazilian federation scrambling around in the aftermath of that 7-1 dismantling at the hands of Germany, Dunga has rarely looked capable of restoring the country to its former glories.
A year ago Brazil was poor at the Copa America in Chile. Neymar, 12 months after being kicked out of a home World Cup by Colombia, lost his cool against the same opposition and landed himself a four-game ban that ended his tournament after just two games. It had hardly been a vintage Selecao with their talisman, but without him they were ordinary and crashed out to Paraguay on penalties.
With no Neymar at all this time around - the CBF cut a deal with Barcelona so that he can play in the Olympics - Brazil's prospects are slim. On current form, the Selecao will not appear at the 2018 World Cup: They are sixth in a qualifying section of 10 teams, trailing Uruguay and Ecuador - Saturday's opponent in Pasadena - by four points.
And it is not just Neymar missing. Six players have withdrawn from Dunga's squad in recent weeks, including Bayern Munich's Douglas Costa, who has so often provided the spark in Neymar's absence. Even his replacement, Kaka, who should have been nowhere near the squad in any case, has pulled out.
But Dunga should not hide behind bad luck. During his two-year reign to date he has marginalized players of the quality of Thiago Silva, Marcelo and David Luiz. Fernandinho, arguably Manchester City's best player last season, was named in the initial squad but was swiftly cut, and has not been afforded the chance to return. Liverpool's Roberto Firmino and Chelsea's Oscar are also on the outside looking in. All would improve this side but all have fallen foul of the man in charge.
There are others, too, meaning it was a significant blow when 36-year-old striker Ricardo Oliveira became the first of the six withdrawals. This, then, has become a youthful squad. There are exciting prospects who can liven up the attack, including Santos' 19-year-old Gabriel Barbosa, dubbed "Gabigol" thanks to his exploits in the Brasileiro, and his club-mate Lucas Lima, the talented 25-year-old who only made his international debut last year but has been handed the No.10 shirt for the Copa.
Neither are expected to start, however, and may instead be called upon from the bench as Brazil faces its toughest test of the group stage in its very first match. Ecuador has beaten both Uruguay and Argentina in the CONMEBOL qualifiers and could easily leave Brazil bruised and beaten.
That would put Dunga firmly in the firing line. He has no love for the Brazilian media, owing to the fierce criticism he and his teammates received after losing to Argentina at the 1990 World Cup, and the feeling has often been mutual.
It is why, in Pasadena 22 years ago, he walked up to the penalty spot knowing that, had he missed, he genuinely may not have been able to return home. On that occasion he proved the doubters wrong. Now he must do so once again.
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