adminLONDON. — Luiz Felipe Scolari has been axed as Brazil soccer team coach, according to reports.
Globo Esporte claims Scolari and his whole coaching staff have been axed by the Brazilian Football Confederation after a disastrous exit from the World Cup, which saw the hosts humiliated against eventual winners Germany.
Brazil were thrashed 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals, their joint-heaviest loss ever and first home competitive defeat for 39 years.
They then lost 3-0 to the Netherlands in the play-off for third place.
Scolari’s contract was set to expire after the tournament, but Globo TV says his resignation was set to be confirmed yesterday by the CBF, Brazil’s football federation.
UOL News, a Brazilian website, is also reporting that Scolari has quit, quoting two CBF sources.
During the defeat by the Netherlands, Scolari, in his second spell in charge of the national team, was booed every time his image appeared on the big screen inside the stadium in Brasilia.
Scolari first took over the Brazil side in 2001 and guided them to World Cup success a year later, beating Germany 2-0 in the 2002 final in Yokohama, Japan. But after spells in charge of Portugal, Premier League side Chelsea, Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan and Brazilian club Palmeiras, he resumed control of the national team in 2012.
Brazil hosted and won the Confederations Cup in 2013, beating Spain 3-0 in the final, and were favourites to win a sixth World Cup.
They finished top of their group after two wins and a draw from their three matches, before edging past Chile on penalties in the last 16.
They beat Colombia 2-1 in the quarter-finals, but lost top goalscorer Neymar to a spine injury and captain Thiago Silva to suspension. — Mirror.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu