Casemiro silences Keane and Dixon with header as Brazil overturn Japan deficit

Casemiro answered his harshest critics in the most direct way possible, heading Brazil level before Gabriel Martinelli sealed a 2-1 comeback victory over Japan in their World Cup clash.

The outgoing Manchester United midfielder had endured a torrid first half, with ITV co-commentator Lee Dixon calling for him to be hooked at the interval. “I’d be amazed if Casemiro comes out for the second half,” Dixon said. “He’s a shadow of his former self wandering around in that midfield. He’s just getting bypassed every time the Japanese players get the ball. He’s given the ball away three or four times, not under pressure. He’s run into two of his own players. He just seems all out of sorts.”

Roy Keane was equally damning in the ITV studio, pointing to Casemiro’s positioning for Kaishu Sano’s brilliant long-range opener — struck just before half-time — as evidence of a deeper problem in Brazil’s midfield. “His first movement has got to be backtracking to slow him up and protect the middle of the goal,” Keane said. “It’s no good having all that experience if you’re not going to use it. I’ll be surprised if he comes out for the second half.”

Manager Carlo Ancelotti ignored both men and kept Casemiro on the pitch. The 34-year-old, who is set to join Inter Miami this summer, repaid that faith by powering a header in at the far post from a Gabriel cross to level the scores.

With the match seemingly heading for extra time, Ancelotti introduced Martinelli on 66 minutes, and the Arsenal forward completed the turnaround after being teed up by Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes — who had started alongside Casemiro and former West Ham man Lucas Paqueta in Brazil’s midfield.

It was a harsh outcome for Japan, who had defended resolutely and looked on course for a famous result before the second-half turnaround. Sano’s opener had been well deserved, with the Selecao struggling to impose themselves through the middle in the opening 45 minutes.

Keane had flagged Brazil’s midfield as a concern throughout the tournament, noting they had been punished for similar issues in an earlier group game against Morocco. For one half at least, those concerns looked well founded — before Casemiro provided the most pointed possible rebuttal.