GOAL

Brazil legend Rivaldo has slated the selection process for the national team in the aftermath of their early Copa America exit.

Following the nation's Copa America quarter-final exit, the Selecao legend has criticised the Dunga's decision to pick those playing in non-prestigious leagues

Dunga's men crashed out of the tournament when they lost to Paraguay on penalties at the quarter-final stage, sparking criticism back home regarding their style of play and how they lack creativity when Neymar is not in the team.

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The inclusion of players such as Everton Ribeiro and Diego Tardelli - who play in UAE and China respectively - seem to have rubbed Rivaldo the wrong way as he suggested the selection process has regressed since his omission from the 2006 World Cup at the age of 34.

"On Tuesday it was 13 years since Brazil won its fifth World Cup, I will never forget that moment," the 43-year-old, who was an integral part of that Selecao side, wrote on his official Facebook page.

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"But, nowadays, it seems that any player can be called to the national team. I remember that in 2006 I wasn't called to the World Cup because I was playing club football in Greece.

"This was even though I was rated as the best player of the league on two occasions and it is a much more prestigious league than the ones where some of the current Brazil players are playing.

"If the state of affairs continues like this, our national team will end up going over 30 years without being champions. Please, can we call up better players because - if we don't - we will be ashamed again.

"I prefer to stay silent and not say anything, but this time I couldn't keep quiet because things are really ugly right now as a country."

Following their humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany in last year's World Cup semi-final, Dunga was hired and the Selecao won 11 games in a row to set themselves up nicely for a Copa America charge.

Neymar's suspension from the remainder of the tournament after he was sent off at the end of their group stage defeat to Colombia cast a cloud over their chances, though, and, for the second time in a row, their tournament ended at the last-eight at the hands of Paraguay.