Manchester United duo Casemiro and Fred have found themselves in the firing line following Brazil’s loss to Croatia at the World Cup.
Brazil were dumped out of the competition at the quarter-final stage yesterday after a tense game against Croatia saw them knocked out on penalties.
The game had been going their way when Neymar scored a superb individual goal in added time in the first half of extra time after the two sides had played out a goalless 90 minutes.
They appeared to be coasting to the semi-finals after that point before they were caught on the counterattack in the 117th minute, resulting in Bruno Petkovic’s deflected effort finding its way beyond Alisson.
That took the game to penalties, which Croatia won 4-2 after converting after Rodrygo saw his opening spot kick saved and Marquinhos hit the post.
Analysis of the defeat has been swift in Brazil and the Manchester United duo found themselves criticised immediately afterwards for the part they played in the lead up to Petkovic’s equaliser.
Iconic Brazilian commentator Galvão Bueno, who retired after the game and is considered the biggest voice in Brazil sports after commenting on two of Brazil’s World Cup wins during his career, has also called them out.
“Fred didn’t enter to close the midfield. What was he doing on the back line of the Brazilian attack in that throw?” he wrote about the Manchester United man on Twitter.
“Casemiro together at the entrance of the area of the opposing team! There is space left! It was the ball of the match! And it was! He got the goal!
“In the penalty shootout, how do you have a penalty shootout in which Neymar does not even shoot? A 21-year-old boy opens the shootout? There are certain things that I cannot understand!”
O Fred não entrou pra fechar o meio de campo?? O que fazia na linha de fundo do ataque brasileiro naquele lance?? O Casemiro junto na entrada da área do time adversário!! Sobrou espaço!! Era a bola do jogo!! E foi!! Tomou o gol!!
— Galvão Bueno (@galvaobueno) December 9, 2022
