<p>Brazil captain Thiago Silva has hit out at critics for disapproving his and his teammates crying before the Selecao's penalty shootout victory against Chile Saturday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Neymar, David Luiz, Thiago Silva and Silva shed tears as the team prepared for the shootout, which Brazil won 3-2, reports Xinhua.<br /><br />"I think we are good psychologically. We are doing what we love to do," the Paris Saint-Germain defender told reporters Thursday.<br /><br />"There was a lot of pressure to win that match and we knew we had to give all we had, but when you do things with a lot of will and desire there is no way to not be emotional."<br /><br />The reaction of Brazil's players during the round of 16 match has been widely criticized by Brazilian football pundits and even former Selecao players.<br /><br />Brazil's 2002 World Cup-winning captain Cafu said only Cesar could be excused for shedding tears, having been blamed by many for Brazil's World Cup quarterfinal exit in 2010.<br /><br />"The tears of Julio Cesar were acceptable because it was a particularly emotional moment for him," Cafu said.<br /><br />"But apart from that there has to be less crying. The team has to forget about crying and think only about playing football."<br /><br />Brazil's players have worked closely with a sports psychologist before and during the World Cup.<br /><br />Silva denied the outpouring of emotion had negatively affected the team.<br /><br />"When those things are said we have to look away," the 29-year-old central defender said. "I just need to think about my job. This is the way I am, I am very emotional and that's very natural. This doesn't affect me at any time on the pitch.<br /><br />"I don't think the emotion makes anything more difficult. I have overcome difficult moments. I had tuberculosis and had my life at risk, but I am a champion on and off the pitch and I show maturity and respect."<br /></p>
<p>Brazil captain Thiago Silva has hit out at critics for disapproving his and his teammates crying before the Selecao's penalty shootout victory against Chile Saturday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Neymar, David Luiz, Thiago Silva and Silva shed tears as the team prepared for the shootout, which Brazil won 3-2, reports Xinhua.<br /><br />"I think we are good psychologically. We are doing what we love to do," the Paris Saint-Germain defender told reporters Thursday.<br /><br />"There was a lot of pressure to win that match and we knew we had to give all we had, but when you do things with a lot of will and desire there is no way to not be emotional."<br /><br />The reaction of Brazil's players during the round of 16 match has been widely criticized by Brazilian football pundits and even former Selecao players.<br /><br />Brazil's 2002 World Cup-winning captain Cafu said only Cesar could be excused for shedding tears, having been blamed by many for Brazil's World Cup quarterfinal exit in 2010.<br /><br />"The tears of Julio Cesar were acceptable because it was a particularly emotional moment for him," Cafu said.<br /><br />"But apart from that there has to be less crying. The team has to forget about crying and think only about playing football."<br /><br />Brazil's players have worked closely with a sports psychologist before and during the World Cup.<br /><br />Silva denied the outpouring of emotion had negatively affected the team.<br /><br />"When those things are said we have to look away," the 29-year-old central defender said. "I just need to think about my job. This is the way I am, I am very emotional and that's very natural. This doesn't affect me at any time on the pitch.<br /><br />"I don't think the emotion makes anything more difficult. I have overcome difficult moments. I had tuberculosis and had my life at risk, but I am a champion on and off the pitch and I show maturity and respect."<br /></p>