Melo - I'm not the villain

Midfielder insists Brazil's exit is a collective responsibility

Last updated: 2nd July 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Melo - I'm not the villain

Melo: Shares the blame

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Felipe Melo insists he has no need to apologise after he was sent off during Brazil's World Cup quarter-final exit against Holland.

The midfielder supplied a superb pass to create Brazil's opener in Port Elizabeth, but his unfortunate own goal allowed Holland to draw level in the second period.

And, moments after Wesley Sneijder headed the decisive second goal for the Oranje, Melo was shown a red card for stamping on Arjen Robben.

Brazil were unable to conjure up an equaliser with 10 men, but Melo is adamant that, while he will share the blame for the five-time champions' defeat, he is not solely responsible.

Most difficult moment

"There's no way I'm the villain of the 2010 World Cup," said Melo.

"It was a collective mistake. When I was sent off, it was already 2-1.

"I don't have to say sorry because we are a group. I bear my share of the blame as do the rest of the group."

The Juventus man added: "This is the most difficult moment of my life.

"We didn't win, it's my first loss with the Brazilian team and it's a tough one as we were leading and had chances to go two up.

"We really failed to deliver as we had our hearts set on being world champions."

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