After being substituted at half-time in the Brazilian team’s first match at the World Cup, midfielder Casemiro became the focus of criticism over his performance against Morocco. Reports from FIFA, which highlighted his slowness and low field coverage, intensified challenges to his football.
Demonstrating the experience of his 34 years and the experience of two previous World Cups, the player faced the situation with sincerity and support. Casemiro recognizes that his performance was far below expectations, but reaffirms Carlo Ancelotti’s total confidence in his work.
Ancelotti, who has admired Casemiro for years, since the multiple titles won together at Real Madrid, even tested Fabinho in the position in recent training. However, the coach informed Casemiro that he will be kept in the starting lineup for the clash against Haiti, scheduled for this Friday, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time).
Under the command of the Italian coach, the experienced player started in 12 of the team’s 13 matches, being absent only in the game against Bolivia, in El Alto, due to suspension.
In Casemiro’s view – and also Ancelotti’s – the unsatisfactory performance against Morocco, although individually noted, resulted mainly from collective failures. Both consider that the Brazilian team’s midfield was without the necessary protection, leading the marking players to spread out to cover vast areas of the field.
“It is necessary to consider that no player reached their best level in the first stage of the match”, stated the Italian coach, reinforcing the analysis.
The big challenge for Casemiro now is to stage yet another recovery in his career, something he has already demonstrated he is capable of at different stages of his career, including in the current World Cup cycle. After the arrival of Dorival Júnior in 2024, he lost space and was away from the national team for more than 18 months. The turnaround occurred with the arrival of Ancelotti, who reinstated him and established him as a central figure in the tactical scheme.
Previously, the midfielder experienced a similar situation at his club, Manchester United. Between 2023 and 2024, he suffered from injuries, had an inconsistent performance and even heard from then coach Rúben Amorim that his style did not align with the team’s tactics. Despite this, he managed to regain his position, lift trophies and leave the club with recognition from the fans.
Aiming to replicate this story of overcoming, Casemiro seeks to protect himself from external pressure and chooses not to follow discussions on social media, as he himself advised other Seleção players in an interview. However, some criticisms reach the steering wheel, some of which he welcomes and confirms, while others are vehemently denied.
The main dispute concerns his physical condition. Casemiro, however, claims to be in great shape, mainly due to having had a less demanding season at Manchester United. The fact that the English club did not participate in European tournaments allowed him to play only 35 matches, a significantly lower game load than in previous years, which could be a crucial factor in maintaining his high performance in the national team at an older age.
Tonight’s clash will mark Casemiro’s 88th game for the Brazilian team, and, for the player, it represents the beginning of another chapter of overcoming in his career.