Zagallo, a winner of four World Cups with Brazil as a player, coach and assistant coach, criticised current boss Luiz Feilipe Scolari's tactics.
"Our football is not normally played like this, it has surrendered to a global trend," said Zagallo, referring to the 3-5-2 formation.
And he added that both Juninho and Ronaldo were wrongly substituted in the second half.
The Brazilian media was also generally unimpressed, despite their team's winning start.
A controversial Rivaldo penalty awarded by Korean referee Young Joo Kim three minutes from time gave Scolari's side victory.
But television replays showed Alpay's offending tackle on Luizao took place outside the penalty area.
"Referee helps Brazil elude shame in their debut," said the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper's headline.
"Brazil resolved its striking problems with an incorrect decision by the inexperienced Korean referee," the leading article continued.
Sports daily Lance ironically congratulated Young for his decision, Gazeta Esportiva said the whole match was "a suffering", while O Globo claimed that Brazil "suffered but deserved the victory".
Ronaldo's return to form "one thousand, four hundred and twenty two days after the final" that Brazil lost at France 98 was the main highlight.
But it was the performance of Young that caught the attention.
"Korean referee saves Brazil's debut," said Pele.net.
"The national team avoided a disgrace with an inexistent penalty at the end of the game."