Brazillian coach Dunga along with his entire technical staff have been dismissed after the side’s quarterfinal exit from the World Cup.

The decision was widely expected after Brazil was beaten 2-1 by the Netherlands in the quarterfinals on Friday. The team took a 1-0 lead through Robinho in the first half, but went on to concede two goals and have a man sent off in a dismal second half performance in Port Elizabeth.

“With the closing of the work cycle that started in August 2006 and ended with the elimination of Brazil from the World Cup in South Africa, the CBF announces the dismissal of the Technical Commission of the Brazilian team,” the federation said in a statement.

It added that a new coach will be appointed before the end of the month.

Local media tipped Mano Menezes, former Brazil player and AC Milan coach Leonardo, and Wanderley Luxemburgo as potential successors to Dunga.

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Arjen Robben returned for Netherlands to help them with a comfortable 2-1 win over Slovakia in Durban on Monday and put them into the World Cup quarterfinals. Brazil thrashed Chile 3 – 0 to show that they can still be considered to be favorites to  lift the World Cup on June 11.

Winger Robben, making his first start in South Africa after suffering a hamstring injury, rifled home a solo effort after 18 minutes to give the Dutch the lead, before Wesley Sneijder wrapped it up six minutes from the end.

Slovakia, who last week sent holders Italy packing with a 3-2 upset, got a consolation with the last kick of the game when Robert Vittek netted from the penalty spot.

“That was nice today. If you’re at the World Cup it should be fun. We didn’t play our best match today but the important thing is that we advanced,” said Robben, adding he has not yet reached his peak form just three weeks after his injury.

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Brazil qualified for the second round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup by beating Ivory Coast 3 – 1 in emphatic fasion at Soccer City in Soweto last night.

Two goals from Luis Fabiano and one from Elano sealed the win which was blighted by a late red card shown to playmaker Kaka two minutes from time.

Coasting and untroubled at 3-0 and with the game drifting to its obvious conclusion, Ivory Coast pulled a goal back when captain Didier Drogba headed home and seven minutes later the game exploded into life in the wrong way with a fracas that seemed utterly at odds with what had gone on before.

It began when Ivorian substitute Kader Keita crashed to the ground in apparant agony holding his face after television replays showed he had been barely nudged in the chest by Kaka, and the Ivorians obvious frustrations boiled over.

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Maicon saved Brazil from embarrassment with an excellent goal out of nowhere against a very stubborn Korean outfit to pave the way for a 2 – 1 win in their World Cup encounter.

The full back ran onto Elano’s pass and somehow managed to blast his shot into the net from the acutest of angles in the 55th minute of the Group G match before Elano added another 17 minutes later.

But there was still time for the North Koreans’ Ji Yun-nam to stun the Brazilians, going past two players and crashing home a left-foot drive in the 87th minute.

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Brazil came from behind to beat the USA 3 – 2 on Sunday in the final of the Confederations Cup in South Africa.

The five-times world champions trailed 2-0 at halftime to the hard-running Americans after goals by Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan.

Luis Fabiano pulled one back at the start of the second half and levelled after 74 minutes before captain Lucio headed the winner six minutes from time.

“When we went in at halftime we only heard about was how we were going to come back and we got that at first goal at an important time,” he told reporters.

“It was great that we managed it. It was very hard and we had to fight for it.

“Our first goal was crucial to keep our belief. We scored early enough so that we knew we had plenty of time maybe to go to extra time. Then we got the second one. After that kept the ball, we moved them from side to side, we kept our patience and we got the third.”

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Daniel Alves scored the winning goal in only the 88th minute in their semi-final game against Bafana Bafana to see Brazil through to the Confederations Cup final.

This semifinal against the hosts was heading for extra time until Alves, in an inspired move by coach Dunga, replaced Andre Santos and broke the stalemate with a curling free kick in the 88th minute.

Brazil face the United States in Sunday’s final with South Africa heading to Rustenburg for the third-place playoff with Spain.

South Africa were without suspended midfielder Macbeth Sibaya, his place taken by Siphiwe Tshabalala, while Brazil midfielder Luisao started for injured Juan.

The two adversaries made it into the last four in wildly contrasting ways – Brazil sauntering through as Group B leaders with maximum points, South Africa edging through on goal difference as Group A runners-up.

With President Jacob Zuma watching, about the only one of the 48 000 fans not blowing into a vuvuzela, South Africa made a promising start as they fought to make their first final since the 1996 African Nations Cup.

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Brazil qualified for the Confederations Cup semi-final by beating a 10-man USA team 3 – 0 on Thursday.

Felipe Melo, Robinho and Maicon secured the three points that lift Dunga’s men to the top of Group B with Italy, in action against Egypt in Thursday’s other game, to come on Sunday.

“We played well but we want to play even better in the games ahead,” warned Manchester City striker Robinho.

“Against Egypt we didn’t play well in the second half but today we showed our real game,” added Kaka, while Dunga’s thoughts had already turned to Saturday’s final group game.

“When Brazil face Italy you never know what’s going to happen,” ventured the Brazil coach.

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