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[Inouie]

Disappointment gripped Brazil yesterday after its star-studded World Cup soccer team suffered a stinging 1-0 defeat to France, ending its hopes of a sixth championship. "This was the worst thing that could have happened - to lose to France again," said Fabio Santos (39), a fan in Sao Paulo.

Brazil, which won the previous World Cup championship in 2002, and is the only country to have won five World Cup titles, considers itself a global soccer superpower. But it lost to France in the 1998 World Cup final and many Brazilians had prayed their team would not be jinxed again yesterday.

Brazil's team struggled to find its rhythm and a tough French defence quieted Brazilian strikers. Many Brazilian fans blamed Carlos Alberto Parreira, the coach, for not playing more of his young reserve players once it became clear the veteran squad was producing few opportunities. "Parreira is crazy," said Pepe Roberto (46).

Thousands of fans tearful

In seaside Rio de Janeiro, the gymnasium of a top Carnival samba school, where thousands of people had gathered to watch the game on giant screens, emptied within minutes of the final whistle. Many fans were tearful.

Fans thought Parreira should have used players like Robinho and Cicinho from the start.

"The only time the team played really well was against Japan with these (young) players, but no, Parreira had to go back to the old scheme," said Aldo Santos, a doorman who watched the game on a small black-and-white TV.