The downfall of Parreira

Parreira, who led Brazil to its record fourth World Cup title in 1994, was the eighth coach to be sacked by the Saudis in less than four years.

The decision was taken by the Saudi Soccer Federation, which met in an extraordinary session in Paris after Saudi Arabia lost its second match 4-0 to France. Even before playing their last game in the first round against South Africa on Wednesday, the Saudis had already been eliminated from the world's most prestigious sporting event.

In a six-hour meeting, the federation headed by Prince Faisal Bin Fadh decided that assistant coach Mohamed Al-Khuraishi should take charge of the team for its last game at the World Cup finals. A committee was also formed to investigate the poor showing of the players.

They had not expected Saudi Arabia to win the World Cup, but the Saudis had perhaps hoped for better things from a team that held England to a 0-0 draw at Wembley last month.

On the eve of the match against France, Prince Faisal had confidently told reporters that his country would win and move on to the second round to match its performance in the United States four years ago.

In 1994, Saudi Arabia became the only Gulf team ever to reach the second round of the World Cup.

But after France buried the Saudi dreams, officials could only offer apologies.

"The federation expresses its apologies and sorrow to the loving, loyal sports fans in the kingdom and the Arab and Muslim world for failing to live up to their hopes and expectations," a federation spokesman told reporters.

Parreira, one of the most accomplished coaches in the world, signed a one-year contract with the Saudi Federation last December for a reported $3 million.

He had led Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates to the World Cup finals in 1982 and 1990 respectively. Saudi Arabia also won the Asian Cup in 1998 under Parreira.

But after the Saudis lost to Denmark 1-0 in their opening match, Parreira had to face reporters to rationalise the result.

"I think we lost the game at a moment when we should not have lost," he said. "I think the boys were brave enough. They did their best. Nobody likes to lose. We are down, we are disappointed, but they should hold their heads up and think of the next two games...they played against a good team and they did well. Their performance was okay."

But after the Saudis went on to lose to the French, Parreira must have known what was coming. Before his sacking was announced, he told reporters on his way to meet Prince Faisal that he had not heard anything official about his fate. "But if the reports are true, I'm ready for it," he added. "Obviously... they were looking for someone to blame and I guess in this case the coach will get it."

Later on Saturday, Parreira, distressed over being fired by the "very demanding Saudis," said he had been a scapegoat for Saudi Arabia's early exit from the 1998 World Cup. Looking weary after returning from an hour's meeting with

Saudi sports officials, Parreira told reporters at the team hotel that he was "no longer" with the Saudi team. "I don't feel happy and I don't feel comfortable with the decision taken by the Saudi officials," he said. "At least they should have let us continue until the end of the World Cup."

Pointing out that he had not taken the job "just for the money," Parreira said Saudi officials "should at least give more time for the coach and players to get used to each other."

Parreira said he had "very good relations with the Saudi players." Several members of the team were seen hugging him just before he left to receive news of his sacking. But none was available to comment after he returned to the team hotel.

The Brazilian said the reason given for his dismissal was the Saudi's "very high expectations, at least to repeat what they had done in the last World Cup--to reach the second round."

Since the team had failed to achieve that goal, he added, "they have taken the decision to cancel my contract and not to [allow me to] coach the Saudi team any further."

Parreira is not the first Brazilian coach to be fired by the Saudis. Mario Zagallo, who is currently coaching the Brazilian national team, had an unsuccessful stint in 1984.

Zagallo, who led his country to the World Cup in 1970 and was assistant to Parreira in 1994, had only scorn for the Saudis' latest action. "To sack a coach like that in the middle of the World Cup is a joke," he said. "It's lamentable. The only reason they did it was to show strength and draw attention to themselves. They owe us a lot. It was we who got them and the United Arab Emirates to the World Cup in the first place... Theirs is an example not to follow."

The two men, who are close friends, were among the first foreign trainers to be attracted to the Middle East in the late 1970s.

Parreira said he planned to stay in Paris until the end of the World Cup on July 12, then he would go on vacation through December.

He said he was weighing up offers from three national teams and several clubs, but he did not give any names.