Casemiro shows his true colours in post-match interaction with Croatia hero Luka Modric
Casemiro fought back the tears to share an emotional post-match embrace with Luka Modric after Brazil’s stunning World Cup exit.
The pre-tournament favourites were knocked out by Croatia on Friday following a dramatic finale at Education City Stadium. Brazil’s talisman Neymar thought he had won the quarter-final clash with a tremendous goal on the stroke of half-time in extra time.
Yet Dinamo Zagreb striker Bruno Petkovic scored a late equaliser to send the game to penalties. Rodrygo and Marquinhos missed from the spot, while Croatia scored all four of their attempts. Casemiro did find the net from the spot, yet his effort wasn’t enough.
The Manchester United midfielder Casemiro was understandably distraught with the result, but he still took the time to congratulate Modric once all was said and done. The two legendary midfielders played alongside each other at Real Madrid, where they won five Champions League titles together.
Modric and Casemiro showed their respect for each other throughout Friday’s game. They faced each other for just the second time at Education City Stadium and were seen enjoying a playful joke during the first-half. They also swapped shirts at half-time.
Brazil were tipped to go all the way in Qatar, yet Casemiro must forget his international woes on concentrate on the second half of the Premier League season at United. Erik ten Hag’s side are also competing in the Europa League, FA Cup and EFL Cup.
Modric, meanwhile, will face either Netherlands or Argentina in the first semi-final of the World Cup at Lusail Stadium on Tuesday night. Few critics backed Croatia, who were the runners-up in 2018, to go the distance this year, but they continue to defy the odds.
Croatia were trounced 4-2 by France in the World Cup final four years ago and have never won a major international tournament, while Brazil are the most successful nation in World Cup history with five titles. They’ll have to wait a bit longer for a sixth title, though.
“You’re only as good as your opponents are,” Jurgen Klinsmann said BBC Sport after the match. “Croatia were resilient, they were always fighting back. Second half was clearly going to Brazil, we thought it was all over with Neymar’s good goal but they were just never giving up.
Luka Modric appreciated his former team-mate’s pain after Brazil’s exit
“The mentality they have, the resilience they have. All their top players play in the top leagues in Europe – they’re all top players.”
Micah Richards added: “We said mental toughness before the game and the Croatian players attitude never to give in. Neymar scores that goal and you think it’s all over but they [Croatia] fought to the end, got the goal and were absolutely brilliant.
“That togetherness got them through in the end. It’s heartbreak, you see Marquinhos there. I thought he was a shoo-in to score, with his experience, the player he is, the way he’s played in this tournament, the courage, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
