RIO DE JANEIRO: Pele reminded Brazilians what they already knew, and were shown so obviously in the humiliating 7-1 loss to eventual champion Germany in the World Cup semi-finals: Brazil must play as a team, not as individual stars if it is to win a sixth title.

Years of growing anticipation turned to disappointment and despondence after the underperforming Brazilian squad failed to deliver a World Cup title on home soil in July.

And after being bundled out of contention by Germany, Brazil lost 3-0 to the Netherlands in the playoff for third place. “There’s no need to explain that what happened was a disaster,” Pele said.

“We had expectations of a different result, but this is something of football. We always have big surprises in football and, unfortunately, it was a negative surprise for us.”

Luiz Felipe Scolari quit as Brazil coach immediately after the tournament and was quickly replaced by former Brazil midfielder Dunga, who previously guided the national team from 2006 to 2010.

“Dunga was already the head coach of Brazil. He is a trustworthy person,” Pele was quoted as saying.

“I know him personally, know how serious he is. But it won’t be hard to have the national team rebuilt. The only thing we need is a more serious work.”

Pele, who scored 77 goals for Brazil between 1957 and 1971, said it was wrong to place so much emphasis on star striker Neymar in the Brazil team.

Neymar fractured a vertebra in his back during the quarterfinal win over Colombia, and missed the remainder of the World Cup, throwing the Brazil attack into disarray.

“Neymar alone will not win a World Cup,” he said.

“Neymar is a very good player, raised at our Santos FC, but he himself will not win a World Cup by himself. We need several ... to win a World Cup.”

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2014