Outgoing Manchester United midfielder Casemiro played his part as Brazil beat Japan to reach the World Cup’s Last 16.
Brazil’s knockout clash with Japan was every bit as difficult as feared, with the Selecao going into the half-time break 1-0 down.
Brazil came back to win 2-1 after a last minute winner from Gabriel Martinelli. And while the Arsenal man took the plaudits, no player defined Brazil’s turnaround quite like Casemiro.
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Casemiro showed what Man Utd will miss
There was speculation from the ITV commentators that Casemiro would be substituted at half-time. He had been booked in the first half. This also prevented him from fully engaging to defend Japan’s opening strike.
The lazy take going around at half-time was that Manchester United were right not to extend Casemiro’s contract.
Perhaps that’s the case – but that’s based more on his salary than the first 45 minutes of football he delivered against Japan.
The second 45 minutes saw Casemiro step up and lift his game. He help Brazil to turn the game around, and scored the crucial equaliser.
He had almost scored another goal too, with a diving headers cleared off the line. He did not shy away from the big moment, with his country 45 minutes away from a disastrous early exit.
And it is this that Manchester United are going to miss.
United are not going to miss the yellow-card prone, occasionally overrun Casemiro that we saw in the first half.
But we will miss the midfielder who never shies away when the moment gets tough.
The player who scores with his head ‘like a striker’, the words of Roy Keane in the ITV studio after the game.
The national team captain who has seen so much criticism that it bounces off him like water off a duck’s back. The player who uses that criticism as motivation to prove his doubters wrong.
Casemiro is 34, and the time probably is right to find a younger version. But doing that is not going to be easy.
The former Real Madrid star has the intangible qualities that statistics and metrics cannot fully measure, a personality who rises to the occasion.
Playing for Manchester United has not been easy over the past four years. Casemiro has played under five different head coaches including the caretaker spells. But he has kept going, and saved his best performances for his fourth and final season.
Carlo Ancelotti is smart enough to know that taking Casemiro off at half-time was not the right call. He backed the veteran to go out and get back on track in the second half, and he was proven correct.
| Casemiro | Match Total |
|---|---|
| Minutes Played | 90 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Passes Completed | 68/76 |
| Total Touches | 91 |
| Shots on Target | 2 |
| Defensive Contributions | 8 |
| Duels Won | 4/6 |
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Headed impact
Manchester United will miss Casemiro’s heading prowess as much as his personality. It was a weapon that proved to be a reliable source of goals.
Casemiro struck up a brilliant connection with captain Bruno Fernandes during the season, and other players are going to have to step up in 2026/27.
For United’s recruitment team, this is part of the puzzle. How can the team find a top class midfielder who is a leader, embraces physicality, commands respect from opponents, and is a regular scorer of headed goals?
The answer is nowhere. Casemiro is a unique player, and a big loss to United. But with the right recruitment, United could sign multiple players who can combine to fill these boxes, and offer something a little different. Perhaps with some upgrades too.
The clock is ticking, the transfer window is open, and Casemiro’s performance for Brazil should underline Manchester United’s need to fill a large gap in the squad.
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