Dunga criticises Brazilian fans after win against Uruguay

"It was as if we had been playing away. In an extremely difficult game like that one was, and at a time when the national team is not well, what one expects is the support of the fans to boost the team. If you cannot count on your friends, who can you count on?" Dunga asked.

 Over 65,000 people at the Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo Wednesday, for a match corresponding to South America's qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, booed the home side in the first half, when Uruguay was winning 1-0.

 The spectators also proffered serious insults against Dunga. When he withdrew superstars Ronaldinho and Robinho in the second half, the fans' protests were very loud.

 "The atmosphere (at the stadium) did not help us, and even the most experienced players felt that," said Dunga.

 The coach accused Sao Paulo fans of having had for many years a hostile attitude towards the national team.

 "We have been experiencing such behaviour from the fans for 10 or 15 years. It was like that with (Carlos Alberto) Parreira, (Mario) Zagallo, (Vanderlei) Luxemburgo, Felipao (Luis Felipe Scolari), from Tele (Santana)," Dunga complained, mentioning his predecessors at the Brazil helm.

 Dunga stressed things "should not be like that."

   "The national team must be more important, it is the country. We know there are club preferences, that the fans may disagree with the make-up of the squad, but it is the national team, we have to support it. In Colombia, in Argentina, we always see the fans cheering," he said.

 Although he admitted that Brazil played badly against Uruguay, Dunga stressed that the team had the spirit to overcome an adverse score and take three points.

 "When technical quality is not predominant, you have to show spirit. That was what everybody demanded after the 2006 World Cup, they wanted to see the national team sweating on the pitch. Yesterday (Wednesday), the players showed that," Dunga said.

 Brazil will have to mend its relations with its own fans relatively quickly. The next official home game for the winners of five World Cups will be against regional arch-rival Argentina, in mid-June.

 Just a few days before that game, moreover, Brazil is set to travel to Paraguay, for a game against the current leader of the qualifiers.