Manchester United duo Casemiro and Fred have been criticised for their role in Croatia’s equaliser in the World Cup quarter-final against Brazil.
Tite’s Brazil looked to be heading for the last-four after Neymar gave the Selecao the lead in injury time in the first half of extra time.
But Zlatko Dalic’s Croatia caught the five-time World Cup winners off guard by equalising with just three minutes of extra time remaining through Bruno Petkovic.
Brazil were inexplicably caught on the counter attack with several players caught out of possession in what was a clear lack of discipline and game management.
Manchester United duo Casemiro and Fred criticised for role in Croatia’s equalising goal
Fred was brought on to replace Lucas Paqueta at half-time in extra-time, but instead of sitting alongside Casemiro in a two-man pivot, United’s number 17 pressed high up the pitch and left the five-time Champions League winner exposed in midfield.
Casemiro tried to win the ball off his former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric, but instead of steering the ball to safety, the 30-year-old inadvertently knocked the ball into the path of Nikola Vlasic.
Vlasic played the ball out to the left-hand side to Mislav Orsic who then squared the ball to Petkovic whose shot went past Alisson via a deflection from Marquinhos.
By the time Petkovic took his shot neither Casemiro or Fred were inside Brazil’s penalty area.
Brazilian commentator Galvao Bueno felt that Fred and Casemiro were to blame for Brazil losing their lead so late on in the game.
Bueno tweeted: “Fred didn’t come in to close the midfield. What were you doing in the bottom line of the Brazilian attack in that move? Casemiro at the entrance to the opposing team’s area. Space left.
“It was the game ball. And it was. [Croatia] took the goal.”
Given the wealth of experience Casemiro possesses, it was a surprise to see United’s number 18 so far away from his defence with Brazil in the lead.
But he wasn’t helped by Fred’s lack of in-game management awareness and Brazil were punished by the United duo’s lapse in concentration and Croatia went on to win on penalties.
The post 'What were you doing': Manchester United duo criticised for role in nation conceding crucial World Cup goal appeared first on United In Focus.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/NFyTr9z