Paulinho: World Cup exit harder to accept than 2014 humiliation

Paulinho felt Brazil's exit from Russia 2018 was harder to accept than its 2014 World Cup humiliation.

A 2-1 loss to Belgium saw Tite's men eliminated in the quarter-finals Friday, four years on from a last-four defeat.

In 2014, World Cup host Brazil was crushed 7-1 by Germany, who went on to win the title. Paulinho, who played in that game in Belo Horizonte, said the loss to Belgium was tougher to take.

"For me, they were both difficult," Paulinho said in a television interview. "A very complicated 2014, but this one is harder."

The midfielder added: "The way we left, we were fighting until the last second, in a match when we were all over them."

Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus started all five of his team's games but was unable to get on the scoresheet.

The Manchester City star said: "It's frustrating. I worked a lot. It's hard. You give up a lot of things to get to such a big tournament. Everyone knows it's a dream.

"Right there after the debut, it became an obsession."