Manchester United midfielder Casemiro once again showed why Carlo Ancelotti trusts him as one of Brazil’s key leaders. After the 2-1 defeat to Japan in Tokyo, the captain spoke to Globo Esporte about focus, maturity, and balance in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup.

“The team didn’t play well in the second half, and at this level, details make all the difference,” he said. Casemiro stressed that Brazil must avoid extremes between excitement and frustration. 

“We know there was enthusiasm after the big win against South Korea, and that’s natural. But we can’t turn a defeat like this into depression. It’s part of the preparation”, he explained.

The Manchester United player also reflected on the lessons from the Asian tour. “We had an excellent training camp and maybe threw away 45 minutes. Let that be a lesson. The World Cup is around the corner, and at this level, whether against Japan or anyone else. 45 minutes can cost a childhood dream.”

Manchester United haven’t managed minutes

Interestingly, Casemiro played the full 90 minutes in both matches. Given his recent workload and injury history, it looks like Manchester United did not request a shorter appearance. Managing his international...