Brazilians return home with missing luggage8217;

BRASILIA, July 14: Brazil's soccer team arrived home to a muted reception today as the nation tried to come to terms with Sunday's 3-0 defea...

BRASILIA, July 14: Brazil8217;s soccer team arrived home to a muted reception today as the nation tried to come to terms with Sunday8217;s 3-0 defeat by France in the World Cup final.

A plane carrying the team touched down shortly after dawn in the capital Brasilia. A red carpet was rolled out and a Government Minister shook hands with the players, including striker Ronaldo who appeared to be limping as he walked across the tarmac.

Four years ago, the scene was very different. Then, Romario, the star of Brazil8217;s successful World Cup campaign, appeared at the cockpit window waving a Brazilian flag.

With this year8217;s World Cup trophy missing from the baggage, organisers dropped a plan to parade the players through Brasilia atop a fire engine 8212; the traditional welcome home for victorious Brazilian sportsmen 8212; and booked a coach instead.

The players and training staff were due to meet President Fernando Henrique Cardoso in the Presidential palace before flying on to Rio de Janeiro.Outside the palace, crowdsdressed in the national colour of yellow and green cheered as a military band struck up a cheerful tune. But fans said the mood was sombre compared with 1994.

8220;Four years ago you couldn8217;t move here,8221; said Rita Oliveira Farias, 50, wrapped in a scarf against the early morning cold. 8220;A lot of Brazilians think that winning is everything and now they feel betrayed. But we got to the final. We tried.8221;

The hottest topic of discussion remained star striker Ronaldo, who suffered a convulsive fit just hours before Sunday8217;s match, and whether manager Mario Zagallo was right to include him in the team.

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8220;Our manager left a lot to be desired,8221; Oliveira said. 8220;Ronaldo nearly died and he still put him on the field. I blame the manager for what happened on Sunday.8221;

The Brazilian media were just as unforgiving. Newspapers printed interviews with doctors and psychiatrists condemning the decision to play Ronaldo. 8220;Zagallo and team doctor Lidio Toledo committed the most heinous, howling and unjustifiablemistake of their lives,8221; said the Correio Braziliense daily in a front page editorial.

O Globo reported Zagallo would be sacked and replaced by Wanderlei Luxemburgo, currently manager of top club side Corinthians.