Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HE’S A CASE-HERO
Manchester United ace comes up with cracker to end blank looks and take Brazil into last 16
FROM in Doha
CASEMIRO rescued Brazil with the kind of strike that Neymar would have been proud of.
Just as the World Cup favourites were heading for only their 10th goalless draw in the history of the tournament, Manchester United midfielder Casemiro came up with a volley from the gods.
A fistful of Brazilian deities were in the 974 Stadium to witness it. Ronaldo, Kaka, Cafu and Roberto Carlos have all won football’s most glittering prize and they recognised both the quality and importance of Casemiro’s cracker as they joined in the Samba celebrations.
The question before kick-off was whether the five-times world champions could cope without the No.10 who is supposed to find his destiny in the desert.
Neymar had limped through the opening game with Serbia after being kicked from pillar to post. He only took his leave after Richarlison had struck a stunning second go spent the last four d having treatment or protective boot.
Coach Tite will h back soon becau certainly did not pe champions-in-waitin
But, as against the were able to produce of stunning brillianc
Casemiro is supp Brazil’s midfield des
But he slipped seven minutes from collect Vinicius Jnr’ thrash a half-volley keeper Yann Somme
A slight deflection of Manchester City
Manuel Akanji helped. It was only Casemiro’s seventh goal for his country, but it will live long in the memory.
His Old Trafford team-mate Fred had been drafted in to replace Neymar.
His first two touches went out of play and he was replaced after 56 pedestrian minutes by Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes.
Fred was not the only Brazilian to toil.
Richarlison once admitted that when he first played for Brazil, he discovered a No.9 shirt that was still heavy with the legend of Ronaldo.
He played like he was carrying the World Cup winner on his back before being replaced by Gabriel Jesus.
Switzerland were aggressive and organised. Apart from an early Raphinha free-kick whipped across the face of goal and a perfectly timed clearance by Nico Elvedi to prevent Lucas Paqueta causing damage, they kept Brazil at arm’s length.
Sommer saved well when Vinicius scuffed a volley with his knee when Raphinha had picked him out brilliantly.
But Switzerland’s growing belief was illustrated perfectly after the break when Granit Xhaka’s switch of play found Silvan Widmer – and it needed some smart defending by
Thiago Silva to prevent the fullback’s cross causing havoc.
Vinicius had the ball in Sommer’s net when he produced a clinical finish from Casemiro’s exquisite pass from the centre circle. But a VAR check spotted Richarlison was offside earlier in the move.
Then, with Brazilian nerves twitching, Casemiro came up with his stunner.
Rodrygo could have twice sealed the outcome. The Real Madrid winger was thwarted by Akanji’s brilliant tackle before lifting a great chance too high moments before the end.