Giovanni Trapattoni was left with a bad taste in his mouth after another poor decision against Ireland in the game against Brazil.
Ireland, whose hopes of reaching the World Cup were ended last November when France controversially knocked them out at the play-off stage, suffered defeat in their friendly against Brazil at the Emirates Stadium but Robinho looked offside when he set up the opener just before the break.
"We saw 45 minutes of a very, very beautiful game," Trapattoni said. "I think we played the same level as Brazil and thought we could have continued at that level and would have not lost.
"With their goal the referee has 'special eyes' in this friendly game. The first goal was offside.
"If we finished the first half 0-0, the Brazil approach for the second half would have been different because psychologically they would go to win."
Robinho set up the first goal when he raced through and crossed for Keith Andrews to turn into his own goal, and then he added the second himself in the second period.
It meant a happy return to England for Robinho, who endured a disappointing first half of the season with Manchester City before being loaned to Santos.
"You can see he is happy again," said Brazil coach Dunga. "He needs the ball at his foot and to play well to be happy.
"With his effort on the pitch, he showed all of us what he can do. Robinho is always someone who has great emotion for the national team."
Despite holding Brazil for almost a half, Trapattoni admitted he saw little chance of the Republic earning a result in the second half and decided to rest some of his players from the Barclays Premier League.
Sean St Ledger and Paul McShane were both caught dwelling on the ball in the second half which could have led to Robinho or Dani Alves adding to the scoreline.
"We made two or three easy mistakes and gave them two great opportunities and they could have scored more," Trapattoni admitted. "After 50 minutes it was clear it was not possible for us because we lost strength. It was clear they weren't fit enough to last 90 minutes.
"I wanted to rest the players who play in the Premier League, I'm thinking about my English colleagues as well. I knew we couldn't come back from the result."
With fellow Italian Fabio Capello watching in the stands, Trapattoni feels Brazil could be the team to beat at the World Cup.
"I think they are a strong team and a great squad," he said. "Brazil have quality. When there is a opportunity to score a goal, they normally take it."
Dunga believes he is in the final stage of preparations for South Africa.
"We have to work with 23 players, we have to create our group and know which players we can swap or not swap," he said. "Everything is almost clear for us. We have different options depending on how we need to play.
"To be favourites or not doesn't mean anything, we have to play. For me it is a surprise that we are favourites because I have been reading that all the players in the Brazil team have been playing badly in Europe."
Dunga left Ronaldinho out of his squad to face Ireland, but he said: "Pele was once the best player in the world. I played once as well. Players come and players go. We have the team decided but we need certain things defined."
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