2022 World Cup: Tite leaves role as Brazil coach after Croatia defeat

Tite has stepped down as head coach of Brazil, after they were eliminated from the 2022 World Cup by Croatia.

It is the second successive tournament that the Selecao have exited the tournament at the quarter-final stage.

Neymar scored a wondergoal in extra-time to put them ahead. But Bruno Petkovic equalised with three minutes remaining to send the game to a penalty shootout.

Rodrygo and Marquinhos both missed their spot-kicks and, with Croatia scoring all four of theirs, Brazil were sent crashing out. As a result, Tite has now left his post as head coach – a move that was decided before the tournament started in Qatar.

Tite announced his decision to leave his job back in February, confirming that he was ready to take on a new challenge. He had spent six years in the job after replacing Dunga in June 2016, but admitted he would depart following the tournament in Qatar.

“I’m going until the end of the World Cup,” Tite told SporTV. “I have no reason to lie here. I don’t want to win any way. I’ve won everything in my career, the only thing missing is the World Cup.”

He led Brazil to the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup, where they lost to Belgium, before going on to win the 2019 Copa America. But his final year in charge was one of disappointment, losing the Copa America final in 2021 before crashing out of the World Cup.

Reactions from Casemiro, Silva

Casemiro and Thiago Silva, two of Brazil’s most experienced players, have reacted to their unexpected defeat. Casemiro said: “All defeats are painful, especially when you have a goal, a dream, you have a four-year job for that moment. But it’s hard to find words.

“Hard to find moments. It’s lifting your head, life goes on. We are sad, everyone in the group did their best. We get upset, mainly because of the way it was. It was in our hand, it escaped there. Hard moment. Now it’s peace of mind, life that has to go on.”

Silva said: “It’s difficult, but as much as it’s sad, life needs to move on, lift your head. I’m very proud of the boys for what we did, but unfortunately it’s part of football.”