Brazil head coach Tite has stepped down from his post after the Selecao were knocked out of the World Cup by Croatia on Friday.

The 61-year-old had always maintained that he would leave after completing a full World Cup cycle, and so his reign will end with the 4-2 defeat on penalties to Croatia in the World Cup quarter-finals.

“I understand that I am the most responsible, but we are all responsible for the loss. It’s not about being a hero or a villain. There is no such thing in sports. Sometimes we have a great performance, we shoot at goal, and the ball deviates. That’s normal. But I can respect the result.”

“There are other great professionals that can replace me.” But in a sober and largely emotionless press conference, Tite left with a defence of his team’s record, not just against Croatia but in the tournament as a whole. When their goalkeeper is the best player on the field, the game is talking to you,” he said in reference to Croatia’s Dominik Livakovic.

“We had to be more effective in making goals. But did Brazil show their best? Overall, yes,” he continued.

It is the second successive time Brazil have exited the World Cup at the quarter-final stage.

Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul