Brazil began their latest international camp with a defeat to France, and much of the post-match attention in the Brazilian press focused on Manchester United duo Casemiro and Matheus Cunha.
Both players were included in the starting line-up but struggled to make a decisive impact as the Selecao were beaten in front of a large crowd in the United States.
France take control with clinical finishing
The match was played at Gillette Stadium and drew a crowd of over 66,000 spectators, one of the biggest attendances for a football game at the venue in recent years.
France took the lead in the first half through Kylian Mbappe, who finished neatly after a quick attacking move. Soon after, Hugo Ekitike doubled the advantage with another composed effort, leaving Brazil with a mountain to climb.
Although Gleison Bremer managed to pull one goal back, Brazil were unable to recover fully, and France held on for a confidence-boosting win ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
Casemiro’s mistake highlighted despite solid work
Casemiro, who captained the side, played most of the match but received mixed reviews from Brazilian outlets. Several reports pointed to his role in France’s opening goal, where he lost possession and allowed the counter-attack to develop.
At the same time, analysts noted that he contributed in other areas, showing effort in midfield, distributing the ball well at times and working defensively. Even so, the overall verdict remained average, with many rating his performance as underwhelming.
Cunha criticised for lack of attacking threat
Matheus Cunha also came under scrutiny, mainly for his limited influence in the final third. Despite his movement and willingness to get involved in build-up play, he struggled to create real danger in front of goal.
Across the match, his attacking contribution was minimal, with very few attempts on target and little involvement in decisive moments.
Brazilian media question overall attacking output
Beyond individual performances, the Brazilian press expressed concern about the team’s attacking efficiency as a whole. Despite having talented forwards on the pitch, France’s goalkeeper had relatively little to do.
The defeat has raised questions about Brazil’s readiness ahead of the World Cup, especially considering the expectations surrounding a squad filled with experienced and high-profile players.
For Casemiro and Cunha, the focus will now shift to improving their performances in the next matches as Brazil look to respond after this disappointing result.
