Casemiro appeared when Brazil needed him most. Chosen MVP of the gamethe Brazilian midfielder scored the tying goal with a header against Japan and later maintained, in a mixed zone, that the comeback was explained by everyone’s patience with the ball until finding space in the Japanese defensive framework.
Final minutes: “It was a mental game. They are a team that played with a very low block, managed to score a goal against us and then stayed playing in the low block. We had to try to open the space in the line, the line of five at the back. But I think the team is in luck, mainly because of this mental aspect, this tranquility, this calm that we had, because I knew that the opportunity was going to come.”
His goal: “Well, I think all the credit there too, not only mine, but also Gabi, who put the perfect ball there to head it. So I think that when you score, you score together, and when you suffer, you suffer together.”
What do you think the team could have done differently? Was patience the key?: “No, no, when I say calmness, it means having patience with the ball. Having patience with the ball. That is the calmness, the patience of rolling from one side to the other, trying to demobilize, trying to make the line of five and demobilize. But of course, it is a whirlwind of emotions there on the field. But I think we managed to do it there… We had the opportunity to do another one at some moments. I think Vinicius had one. I even had another one in my head too. I think that We managed to penetrate. I think we had Japan inside their area at all times. I think we managed to press. But when I say this patience, this calm, this movement of the ball, that is the patience I am talking about.
Your annoyances: “I’m not bad, I just have a little pain. In the adductor, I think I had a little cramp. But it was nothing too much. Thanks for the question.”
It is the first time that Brazil has come back from a game in a World Cup since 2002. What is different about this team in order to turn the score around?: “I think that football is getting more and more difficult, mainly against the Japanese national team. It is an extremely difficult match because those rivals that we talked about before in the world of football no longer exist. I think that everyone is already complicated, everyone is already very difficult. But I like to evaluate the group, mainly the players who are coming in. Today it was Endrick, Martinelli, Rayan replacing Raphinha, Felipe coming in well and then Fabinho too. I think that is the most important thing, valuing the group. So, when One player leaves and another enters and the level remains high, I think that is the most important thing to win titles.
The question that no one understood… and outraged Brazilians
After five questions, in the midst of the chaos that forms in the mixed zone of any match in the Worldthere was a question that outraged everyone. The questions are few… and with all the journalists fighting for space to ask, it appeared Rifat Masoud. The journalist of T-Sports Bangladesh He grabbed the microphone and asked his question.
“As we speak, it’s midnight in Bangladesh right now and there are tons of Brazilian fans on the streets celebrating Brazil’s victory. Do you have anything to say to the Bangladeshi fans?”he asked to the indignation of everyone present. Questions are counted and, instead of asking about the game, you take advantage of the turn (taken from another journalist) to ask for a greeting for Bangladesh. Casemiro’s face was a poem, but he responded politely. As he always has done. “Thank you very much, thank you for your support,” settled while several Brazilian journalists burned with rage. “This can’t be done, just anyone can’t ask… and even less to ask for a greeting. It’s not serious”said a journalist.
