Midfielder Casemiro disappointed on the day Brazil was held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their opening Group C match of the 2026 World Cup on the morning of June 14.
Starting in coach Carlo Ancelotti’s lineup, the 34-year-old star was expected to bring solidity to Brazil’s midfield. However, the reality was quite the opposite. Right from the first few minutes, Casemiro and his teammates in the center of the park faced many difficulties against Morocco’s fast and energetic style of play.
The African representatives continuously exploited spaces in the midfield. It was from a central breakthrough that Morocco scored the opening goal in the first half. Casemiro was judged to have failed in his interception and defensive support duties, causing Brazil’s tactical system to operate ineffectively.
Although Vinicius Junior scored the equalizer for Brazil before the break, Casemiro’s performance still became the focal point of criticism. In his more than 45 minutes on the pitch, the former MU midfielder appeared sluggish in duels, inaccurate in his passes, and made almost no impact on the build-up play.
The disappointment grew when Casemiro received a yellow card late in the first half. Right after the break, coach Ancelotti decided to take him off to give Fabinho a chance.
On social media, many Brazilian and MU fans expressed their disappointment. Many opined that Casemiro is showing clear signs of decline compared to his peak form in the “Red Devils” shirt.
“Casemiro cannot handle a high-intensity match,” one account wrote. Another fan spoke up: “Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes look like two strangers on the pitch.” Another fan commented: “Brazil’s midfield clearly has a huge problem; if they can’t fix it, it will be hard for them to win the championship this year.”
Despite avoiding defeat against Morocco, Casemiro will certainly face much more pressure in the next match against Haiti on June 20.
