Dunga and ‘that’ shirt
Written by Joe Kent , 10.02 15h13
Brazil’s performance against Portugal is unlikely to go down in the history books but one aspect of Tuesday night’s game may well do just that – Dunga’s choice of attire.Dunga took to the sidelines in an exotic floral patterned black and white shirt.
It attracted media attention from across the globe, lead to Dunga going on the offensive and even an official statement from the CBF.
In the statement published on Friday night the CBF denied rumours that they have ordered Dunga to use the official selecão track suit in all future games.
The newspaper O Estado de São Paulo had reported that CBF President Ricardo Teixeira was annoyed with Dunga’s choice of extravagant shirt and the negative repercussions it had caused. This was also refuted.
Dunga was clearly annoyed by critics of his shirt and his daughter, his stylist.
“They can use the shirt to get at me because they can’t find any other way to do so. The shirts I use at games are the same as I use day to day,” he told SporTV.
The Argentine sports daily Olé dedicated its front page to Dunga and the shirt, trying to guess what some of the players and fans may have been thinking. It showed a pensive Juan claiming, “I didn’t want to wear this hat but it was Dunga Dunga that dressed me,” while various fans shouted abuse.
UK broadsheet The Times pointed out that amount from the extravagant floral pattern on Dunga’s back there was nothing else flowery about the his first defeat while in charge of the national team.
Globo, the Brazilian media conglomerate have created a forum on their website dedicated exclusively to Dunga’s shirt. One comment read, “In a word – RIDICULOUS!” before going on to lament the coach for focusing on fashion over football.
Another user was more understanding, “We can’t complain – carnival is coming and he has already chosen his costume.”
