We didn't play as Brazil can: Parreira

"Technically, we have a very good team, very experienced, but when you don't win the title, it's because there's something missing."

Brazil's star-studded team is leaving Germany without the trophy many thought it would easily take home.

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It also leaves without playing the beautiful game and displaying the flair many expected from the five-time world champions.

The team's disappointing World Cup ended on Saturday after a 1-0 quarterfinal loss to France in Frankfurt.

"Technically, we have a very good team, very experienced," Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said. "But when you don't win the title, it's because there has been something missing."

"We had some problems, and we needed a little more preparation, probably in terms of fitness and getting the team to play as a unit," Parreira said.

Brazil failed to impress in the five matches it played. It underwhelmed in first-round victories against Croatia and Australia, and was heavily challenged by Ghana despite a 3-0 win in the second round.

Only against Japan, when Parreira fielded five reserve players to rest some of the regular starters, was Brazil able to play well.

"That was the right decision for that match," Parreira said. "We can't assume that if I had played the same team again we would've won it."

"I did not prepare for this and no one in our delegation prepared for this," Parreira said. Brazilian players were not trying to find excuses for the elimination.

"We have to accept the criticism and start to get the young players ready for the next World Cup," he said. "We didn't play as Brazil can."

Brazil, however, still had some reasons to celebrate.

Ronaldo scored three times to become the competition's all-time leading scorer with 15 goals. Defender Lucio set a record for the most minutes without committing a foul in a World Cup. He did not concede one until the 26th minute against France, making it 386 minutes without giving a free kick.

Cafu became the Brazilian player with most World Cup appearances, and Parreira moved up to second on the list of most matches as a coach at the World Cup -- tied with assistant coach Mario Zagallo and Bora Milutinovic with 20 games.

Parreira said that he would wait a few days before making a decision about his future with the national team.

Some of Brazil's veteran players will likely be facing a similar decision in the near future, including 36-year-old Cafu, 33-year-old Roberto Carlos and 29-year-old Ronaldo.

Robinho, Cicinho, Kaka, Adriano and two-time FIFA player of the year Ronaldinho were touted to lead Brazil from now on.