Africa-Press – Lesotho. With the weight of a whole nation resting on their shoulders, the World Cup can be a cut-throat football tournament for managers and coaches. The World Cup 2022 is no exception.
This year’s tournament has already produced its fair share of upsets. As a result, there have already been a few managerial casualties. Here are the managers who have left their posts:
Brazil coach Adenor Leonardo Bacchi, known as “Tite”, had previously said he planned to step down after his contract ended in the wake of this year’s World Cup.
But that exit came faster than many expected, as the tournament favourites saw a one goal lead over Croatia in added time quickly evaporate during their quarterfinal match.
Tied at 1-1, Croatia went on to win 4-2 on penalty kicks in front of shocked Brazilian players and fans. The loss capped an uneven tournament for Brazil, a team that entered this year’s World Cup with one of the deepest decks of international talent of any side.
The group stage had earlier included a surprise 0-1 loss to Cameroon after Brazil had already qualified for knockouts. Tite took on the role of national team manager in 2016, leading Brazil to a quarterfinal exit in the 2018 World Cup and tournament victory in the 2019 Copa America.
“Sometimes we have a great performance, we shoot at goal, and the ball deviates.
That’s normal. But I can respect the result,” he said after the Croatia match. “The loss hurts, but I’m at peace with myself right now. ” Netherlands: Louis van Gaal Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has said this bout as manager of the national team – his third – would be his final.
The announcement came after The Netherlands lost to Argentina in their quarterfinal match, a raucous 2-2 nailbiter that saw the Dutch team come back from the brink to lose 3-4 on penalty kicks. A coaching stalwart in European club football, van Gaal has become known for his – at times controversial – strategic decisions.
Before his final World Cup match he batted away criticism that his team’s restrained play made for “boring” football, citing their success in topping their group stage and beating the USA handily in the Round of 16.
Van Gaal came out of retirement to take the reigns for a final time following the national team’s disappointing showing in Euro 2020. His first stint in the role – from 2000 to 2002 – saw the Netherland’s World Cup campaign fizzle without qualifying for the tournament.
His return from 2012 to 2014 saw the team reach the World Cup 2014 semifinals. “I don’t think we have been beaten today. It was only a penalty shoot-out,” van Gaal said after the Argentina loss.
“What I’m leaving behind is a great group.
“This was my very last match.
. I look back in a positive way.
Louis van Gaal Mexico: Gerardo Martino
The Argentinian coach, Gerardo “Tata” Martino, who had previously managed Barcelona and Argentina, resigned after Mexico’s disastrous group-stage exit.
El Tri played out a goalless draw with Poland in their opener, followed by a 2-0 loss to Argentina. Mexico finally scored in their final game against Saudi Arabia, winning 2-1, but it was not enough to progress to the last 16.
The last time Mexico had qualified for the tournament but failed to make it out of the knockout stage was in 1976. After the match, Martino said, “As the person in charge, it causes a lot of sadness; I fully assume responsibility for this great failure.
” Martino had managed Mexico since January 2019 after winning the MLS Cup with Atlanta United.
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