World Cup 2014: Brazil defender Dani Alves labels Alan Shearer 'idiotic'

Right back unimpressed with BBC pundit's views on striker Fred

Daniel Alves laughs during a press conference (Getty Images)

Brazilian right-back Dani Alves has hit back at BBC pundit Alan Shearer, labelling his comments about striker Fred ' idiotic'.

Former England striker Shearer said last week that Brazil's number nine was slow, poor at shooting and should be taken out of the team.

Fred, who currently plays in Brazil for Fluminense, has yet to score in this either of his side's game this tournament.

"I just don't understand why Brazil are still picking him," Shearer said. "He doesn't move, he doesn't shoot and he's dragging the team down. I don't know if Brazil should change the system or play Neymar as a false nine, but the fact is that Fred is not the answer for what they are doing now."

His comments are thought to have angered Brazilian players and Alves in particular who spoke out to reporters at the team's camp.

"Those comments are some of the most idiotic that anyone can ever say," Alves told reporters at Brazil's base camp just outside Rio de Janeiro.

"Someone who played football, who knows how difficult it is to be a football player, how difficult it is to beat opponents, compete, score goals, it's a shame for football and a lack of respect for his colleagues that play the game. It's something to be ashamed of."

Alan Shearer - idiotic? (GETTY IMAGES)

Brazil are currently top of Group A on goal difference, with just their remaining game against Cameroon left to ensure qualification for the knockout rounds - a requirement to sate an increasingly agitated national public.

"Fans want to the team to win, scoring five, 10 goals," Alves said. "So when we don't manage that they read things very differently from us, because they act with emotion and we act with a bit more criteria.

"We think that our fans have created a huge amount of expectation in the team and we are clearly working to provide answers to those expectations," he added.

"People are normally very pessimistic and they're tremendously negative, but we need to stay faithful and defend the work we're doing, which I think is very well done."