Brazil players unhappy with jeering
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-06-20 11:10

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil - Brazil's players were unhappy with the spectators who jeered coach Dunga and the team during the 0-0 World Cup qualifying draw with Argentina on Wednesday.


Argentina's goalie Roberto Abbondanzieri grabs the jersey of Brazil's Robinho during their World Cup qualifying soccer match in Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte on Wednesday. The match ended 0-0. [Agencies] 

Frustrated by their side's performance, the 52,000 fans at the Mineirao stadium also applauded Argentina's Lionel Messi when he was substituted in stoppage time.

"The Brazilian supporters need to give encouragement," defender Gilberto told reporters. "But Argentina come to play in Brazil and the Brazilian supporters applaud Messi.

"When Messi went off there were 40,000 people applauding him."

"I feel bad because I left my wife and two daughters at home and came here and did my best. Maybe I didn't play well and we didn't win but it's very bad to hear them booing the Brazil coach.

"When we're playing at home, we need the support of the fans. It's a cultural thing. When you play in Paraguay, everyone is supporting Paraguay."

Striker Luis Fabiano said: "It's unpleasant for us, we want to do our best and some people come here and jeer."

Dunga said he was not bothererd about being insulted but wanted encouargement for the team.

"It's normal for there to be pressure," he told reporters.

"The public wants to win, there was a party before the game but we had a game to play against tough opposition."

"They can insult me, but the booing started at a moment in the game when the players most needed their encouragement."

Argentina played the more flowing football and will be much happier with the result than the host, despite a double miss by Messi in stoppage time.

The visitor ended a run of losses to its archrival, having lost the previous three meetings by three-goal margins, and went second in the South American group with 11 points, two behind leader Paraguay.

Brazil, beaten 2-0 by Paraguay on Sunday, is fourth on nine points after completing its third game without scoring and narrowly avoiding a first-ever home defeat in a World Cup qualifier.

"It was a bad result at home," Brazil striker Robinho told the Sportv cable channel.

The Mineirao crowd lost patience with Dunga in the second half, chanting "Goodbye Dunga", among other things, and "Donkey, donkey" when he replaced Adriano with Luis Fabiano.

Dunga, who had no previous coaching experience, was appointed after the 2006 -World Cup.

Julio Cruz and Sergio Aguero missed gilt-edged chances for Argentina and Brazil's disorganized midfield struggled to string passes together.

Argentina's Jonas Gutierrez, one of four changes made by coach Alfio Basile to the starting lineup from Sunday's 1-1 draw with Ecuador, set up the first chance for Julio Cruz, whose header was saved by Julio Cesar.

Brazil created its best chance when Robinho broke down the right and the ball fell to Julio Baptista but his shot was turned away brilliantly by Roberto Abbondanzieri.

One minute later, Abbondanzieri rushed out of his penalty area and was rounded by Robinho but the Argentina defense got back in time to smother the danger.

Bolivia ended Paraguay's unbeaten run in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday, beating the South American group leader 4-2.

Striker Joaquin Botero scored twice to help Bolivia to its first win in the group and move itself off bottom spot.

Colombia remained unbeaten in the qualifying group after holding Ecuador to a 0-0 draw away from home on Wednesday.

Colombia has 10 points from six games, three behind leader Paraguay. Ecuador has five.