THE RECORD was beckoning for them but, in the end, neither man could make it. Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer remain the only people to have won the World Cup as a player (Zagallo 1958, Beckenbauer 1974) and as a coach (1970, 1990) and the efforts of Dunga and Diego Maradona, in charge of Brazil and Argentina respectively, fell at the same hurdle, in the quarter-final, both undone by their own decisions.

Brazil's defeat to Holland was the more unexpected, given that Gucci 1400 Gold Plated Steel White Ladies Bangle Watch YA014501 they were 1-0 up at half-time and looked in total control. Then Holland got a lucky equaliser, Brazil lost their heads, conceded from a corner and Felipe Melo was sent off.

What cost Brazil was the decision not to go for the kill and score a second goal in that first half, which they dominated. But that is not Dunga's approach to football; it is not how Brazil won the 2007 and 2009 Confederations Cup.

Back then, the byword was pragmatic football, the opposite of 'joga bonito' - score a goal, defend your lead and close out the game.

There were clues from the sidelines that Brazil would be unable to do this. As the game went on, Dunga cut an increasingly frantic figure on the Brazil bench, punching the dug-out when decisions went against his side, pestering the fourth official after every foul against them. His tension affected his players.

Dunga has carried the can for the loss and has paid for it with his job. He won't be missed, and nor will his style of football, but the question now is, with Brazil hosting the 2014 World Cup, who will replace him? Luiz Felipe Scolari has already turned the job down as he is contracted to Palmeiras until 2012, which leaves Leonardo as the early favourite.

Other contenders include Ricardo, who flopped with the Olympic team in 2004, Murciy Ramalho, whose relations with the local press are at an all-time low, or, Dorival, as yet unproven but impressing at Santos.

The lack of options has started a debate in Brazil: is now the Hermes Kelly Handbags time to follow the example of England and hire a foreign coach? Names like Guus Hiddink, Jose Mourinho and even Sven-Goran Eriksson have been mentioned, but even more intriguing is Marcelo Bielsa, an Argentine whose attacking philosophy helped wholesale lingerie Chile reach the last 16.

The likelihood is Brazil will play safe and appoint one of their own - but the fact the debate has even begun is a sign of how low their fortunes are right now.

That's not quite the same in Argentina, whose coach Diego Maradona said after their 4-0 loss to Germany: 'At least we went out trying to play football.' Maradona has somehow avoided criticism for a bizarre team selection in the Germany game. He entered the tournament without a right-back, starting with Jonas before picking a centreback, Nicolas Otamendi, to play there. Three of Germany's goals came from down the right flank. The other strange choice was to leave out Juan Sebastian Veron, whom he had called his most important player, and the key link to Lionel Messi.

Nevertheless, Maradona's iconic status in Argentina has left him untouchable. If he does go, it will not be in disgrace like Dunga.

CAPTION(S):

DUNGA: Who will replace him as Brazil boss?

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