Casemiro forced commentator Lee Dixon to eat humble pie after the Brazilian midfielder was accused of being ‘a shadow of his former self’ in the last-32 clash against Japan in Houston.
The Brazilian, who left Manchester United as a free agent this summer and will join Inter Miami in MLS, struggled with the pace of Japan’s midfield press in the opening 45 minutes and was caught out for the opening goal when Kaishu Sano drove past him to finish.
ITV commentator Lee Dixon offered a withering assessment of Casemiro throughout the first half, claiming he has ‘no legs’ before going on to add that he looked like ‘a shadow of his former self’.
Along with Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes and former West Ham star Lucas Paqueta, Casemiro and Brazil’s midfield found itself overrun by a Japan team perfectly executing a 3-4-3 system that nullified Vinicius Jnr.
Dixon, who has long been a critical voice of Casemiro, claiming in 2024 that he looked like he was ‘towing a caravan’ during an FA Cup match, also went on to suggest that he’d have been amazed should Casemiro come out to play in the second half, a sentiment echoed by pundit Roy Keane.
Casemiro (left) was beaten for pace by Japan’s Kaishu Sano for Japan’s first goal in Houston
Lee Dixon, working on commentary for ITV, served up a withering assessment of Casemiro
‘Casemiro’s first movement is to come out but he’s got to be backtracking and protecting the goal,’ Keane said of the former United midfielder’s role in the opening goal.
‘He’s got to be slowing the player down. He’s an experienced player but it’s no good having all that experience if you’re not going to use it.
‘Credit to the attacker [Kaishu] Sano, very, very good but Casemiro has almost guided him to go past him.
‘His first thought has got to be backtracking to slow him up and protect the middle of the goal.
‘Well deserved, a very good strike, but from Brazil’s midfield point of view nowhere near good enough. I’d be surprised if he comes out for the second half.’
While Carlo Ancelotti did make a half-time alteration in midfield, it wasn’t to withdraw Casemiro.
Instead, off went Paqueta, who was limping towards the substitutes’ bench, with Endrick on to replace him.
It proved an inspired decision to keep faith in Casemiro as it was he who found space at the back post to nod in Gabriel’s cross just before the hour mark, leaving ITV commentator Dixon to eat a large slice of humble pie.
‘That’s probably why I’m sat up here with a microphone and Carlo Ancelotti’s down their making decisions because he’d have been off for me,’ Dixon said.
