Brazil boss Diniz labels Argentina defeat as 'quite unfair'

Brazil's interim coach, Fernando Diniz, considered Brazil's 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Argentina on Tuesday at the Maracana to be unfair, saying his side played better and had more chances to score.

"The number of chances we had... but we didn't finish them. We hit the post more times, we had more corner kicks, free kicks, but unfortunately the ball didn't go in," the coach added, highlighting Brazil's supposed dominance in the match.

Brazil, who had never lost three straight games in a qualifier and never at home, slipped to sixth in the South American qualifying standings with seven points, eight points behind leaders Argentina.

Despite the national team being booed by the Brazilian crowd at the Maracana and fans calling for the coach's sack, Diniz insisted that Brazil played one of their best games since he took charge of the 'Selecao'.

"Against Bolivia we were very good but, considering the rivalry and that Argentina are the current world champions, if we consider all the variables, if it wasn't Brazil's best game so far, it was one of the best," he said.

He said that, although he called up many new and young players to the Brazil squad who still need time to play as a team, his players showed a lot of collective build-up and great teamwork.ç

"The players were excellent in defence, but in football, the result does not always explain what happens in the game," he said, denying that his decision to field four strikers again, as he did in Brazil's 2-1 loss to Colombia, had left the defence weak.