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Juninho: Scolari should have quit

Former Brazil midfielder Juninho Pernambucano has expressed his shock that Luiz Felipe Scolari did not resign following the Selecao's humiliation by Germany.

- Duarte: Dear Mr Scolari...

Like his crestfallen compatriots, Juninho watched aghast as the World Cup hosts were torn apart by Germany in Tuesday's semifinal.

The Selecao will now contest a third place playoff with Netherlands in Brasilia on Saturday, but Juninho told RMC that Scolari should not be in the dugout when the team steps out in the Brazilian capital.

"It's the most significant defeat in the history of football, and not only that of Brazil. You lose 7-1 at home, if you have a little bit of honour... If I had been the coach, I would have taken my decision at the end of the game. I would have resigned, with all my staff. It's impossible Scolari be at the stadium on Saturday with Parreira, with the Brazil team."

Brazil have always been led by a man from within their own nation but Juninho, who developed into one of European football's premier midfielders during his near-decade at Lyon, believes the time is now right to rejuvenate the national team with some fresh ideas from a foreign boss.

"I have lost all illusions I had in relation to our coaches," Juninho added. "I know that I progressed a lot thanks to my eight years in France. It's time to bring in a great foreign coach. Now they're going to play qualifiers. The road is long."

Meanwhile Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, whose midfielder Oscar played in Brazil's rout by Germany, insists Scolari hasn't lost the support of the dressing room -- but admitted it will be tough for the veteran to continue without the support of the public.

"Every situation is a situation and sometimes it's not just the relation with the group, especially the relation with the country because, if for example you ask me directly if Scolari has problems with the group, I don't think so," Mourinho said.

"I think the group is very much together with him. He will have problems with the country globally if he stays in the job, will be massive pressure for him to stay in the job and to start the next campaign for the Russia World Cup I believe so.