Lights don’t go out on Brazil, Dunga at Copa America

In a Copa America semifinal match highlighted by a delay due to the lights going out, Brazil hung on to beat Uruguay, 5-4 in penalty kicks after the game finished 2-2.

Brazil advances to the final of the tournament, being held in Venezuela, against the winner of tomorrow’s Argentina-Mexico match.

For Brazilian National Team coach Dunga, the game was very nearly his last. His defensive-first style has won him few fans in a nation of 180 million soccer coaches.

And his game management has been equally poor – his unwillingness to allow former Santos teammates Diego and Robinho share the pitch for long stretches; putting in seldom-tested midfielder Fernando into the Uruguay match late, a move that nearly lost it for Brazil, as Fernando missed his penalty kick; the horrendous duo of Wagner Love and Afonso. Honestly can’t Robinho pretend he’s an attacker? Anderson?

Dunga can survive a close loss to Argentina, perhaps. He is missing Kaka and Ronaldinho Gaucho, among others. A big loss to Argentina, however, or a loss to Mexico in the final will end Dunga’s run, and likely start Vanderley Luxemburgo’s reign as Brazil’s coach.

–WKW

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