Tite Steps Down As Brazil’s Coach After World Cup Exit
Tite made it known that it was the “end of a cycle” for him as Brazil’s coach after the favourites were dumped out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals on penalties by Croatia on Friday.
The 61-year-old, who has been in charge since 2016, had previously made it no secret that he would leave the position after the tournament in Qatar, regardless of the outcome.
“It is a painful defeat but I go in peace. It is the end of a cycle,” he disclosed this in an interview at Doha’s Education City Stadium.
“I already said that a year and a half ago. I didn’t come here to win and then turn around and say I was going to stay. People who know me know that.”
After a goalless 90 minutes, Brazil took the lead through Neymar midway through extra time only for Bruno Petkovic to bag an equalizer for Croatia in the 117th minute.
That meant penalties, and Rodrygo’s first kick for Brazil was saved by Croatia’s man of the match Dominik Livakovic.
With Croatia scoring four penalties, Marquinhos had to convert when he stepped up for Brazil, only to hit the post.
Tite had already overseen a quarter-final exit at the hands of Belgium at the last World Cup in Russia four years ago.
