Parreira says no witch-hunts after Brazil loss

FRANKFURT, July 2 (Reuters) Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira refused to criticise his team after the world champions suffered a shock quarter-final exit from the World Cup.

''We still haven't gone 24 hours and we're still licking our wounds,'' said Parreira, whose side, hot favourites to win a sixth world title, lost 1-0 to France yesterday.

''We're very sad, we wanted to win but there's not going to be any witch-hunt. I'm not going to pick on any player.

''We've got the best players in the world and we're going to support them,'' he said. ''Winning or losing, we do it together.

''It's difficult to explain the defeat. I don't have a conclusive answer.'' The Brazilian media have already criticised the performances of the older players such as Cafu, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo.

They also say that FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho was the biggest let-down of the competition.

Parreira, who led Brazil to their fourth World Cup title in 1994, would not comment on his future, saying it would be decided after returning home.

HUGE EXPECTATIONS No Brazilian coach has kept the job after failing to win the title although the late Tele Santana, coach in 1982, quit and later returned for 1986.

Parreira also commented on the huge expectations and media interest in his side.

''It's very difficult to work with 800 people watching,'' he said of the Brazilian and international media corps who regularly flocked to Brazil training sessions.

''The expectation that was created was very big and they were measuring us by the expectation, not the reality.'' Yesterday's defeat was Brazil's first since they lost to Mexico at last year's Confederations Cup. Since then, they had played 14 internationals without losing.

It was also their first loss to a European side since they were beaten by Portugal in March 2003.

Brazil have played 53 games since Parreira, who was also briefly in charge in 1983, took over in January 2003. Saturday's was their sixth loss.

REUTERS DH BST2019