Coach Dunga has confirmed he will stand down after taking full responsibility for Brazil's World Cup exit.

Dunga saw his men suffer a 2-1 quarter-final defeat at the hands of the Netherlands in Port Elizabeth.

Robino had given Brazil the lead only for the Dutch to draw level through a Felipe Melo own goal before Wesley Sneijder's 68th-minute headed winner.

"We knew when I started that I would be here for four years," said Dunga, who took over as Brazil boss in 2006.

"It's sad, it's difficult, nobody prepares to lose."

In December 2009 the 46-year-old said he would step down after the 2010 World Cup finals, even if he were to have guided Brazil to their sixth World Cup triumph.

"Without a shadow of a doubt, I am the coach of the Brazilian team, I have the greatest responsibility," added the 1994 World Cup-winning captain after the defeat.

The momentum of the match swung in the Netherlands' favour when Melo headed beyond goalkeeper Julio Cesar and into his own net attempting to clear a 53rd-minute Sneijder cross.

"We had two players going for the same ball and what happened happened," stated Cesar.

Inter Milan striker Sneijder netted the winner when he headed Dirk Kuyt's near-post flick-on past a stranded Cesar.

Juventus midfielder Melo was sent off 17 minutes from time for a nasty stamp on Arjen Robben as the Netherlands held on to reach the World Cup semi-finals for the fourth time.

"We knew it was going to be a very delicate, very difficult game, but we weren't able to maintain the rhythm we had in the first half in the second half," reflected Dunga.