Johannesburg: Brazil coach Dunga insisted
the controversial dismissal of star midfielder Kaka was
`totally unjustified` as the five-time world champions beat
the Ivory Coast 3-1 to reach the World Cup last 16 on Sunday.
Kaka was sent off for a second yellow card in the final
minutes for pushing Abdelkader Keita, but the Ivorian wildly
exaggerated the impact of the shove by falling to the ground,
dramatically clutching his face.
Having earlier picked up a yellow card for a push on Yaya
Toure on 85 minutes, Kaka was shown red three minutes later
when Keita ran into the Brazilian, who was looking the other
way.
"I won`t make any comment about the red card," fumed Kaka
after the game. "I think all of you saw the image and
everything else, so I have nothing further to say. The images
are there for all to see and you are able to see what really
happened."
Dunga was left almost speechless by the sending off which
now sees the Real Madrid star suspended for the final Group G
match against Portugal in Durban on Friday.
"It was a totally unjustified dismissal of Kaka, he was
fouled and yet he was punished. The player who commits the
foul escapes the yellow card, I have to congratulate him for
that," said Dunga.
"We are left a bit in doubt, what do we have to do in
order not to receive these yellow cards? "We are not sure who
will replace Kaka for the next game, we will think about it
over the next few days."
Brazil booked their place in the knock-out phase thanks
to goals either side of half-time by Sevilla`s Luis Fabiano,
on 25 and 52 minutes, and Galatasary`s Elano, who converted a
Kaka cross on 62 minutes.
Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba scored a late
consolation goal for the Elephants.
Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson felt the second
yellow card against Kaka was warranted and said the Brazilians
should not complain after there was more than a hint of
handball in Luis Fabiano`s second goal.
"I heard Brazil complain a lot, but I don`t think they
should, it is extra difficult when Fabiano is allowed to use
his hands. It was not just once, it was twice," said the
Swede.
"They were allowed to take a two-goal lead and that
changed everything."
But former England boss Eriksson feels Brazil have the
mark of potential world champions.
"I think the Brazil team can go all the way, they have
quality especially in defence," he said. "You need to be
almost perfect to beat Brazil. In every way they are good,
they are very good."
Bureau Report
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