With Croatia and Brazil meeting in the World Cup quarter-finals today, Lorenzo Bettoni analyses the key tactical battle between Marcelo Brozovic and Casemiro in the middle of the park.
“Brozo is the best player in the World in front of the defence. Casemiro is also there, but he interprets the role differently. Nobody is like Marcelo in that position.” That’s how Inter star Nicolò Barella previewed today’s encounter between his friend and teammate Brozovic and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro who will cross paths in a World Cup quarter-final clash between Croatia and Brazil.
Same position, but with different characteristics. The meeting between ‘Epic Brozo’ and Casemiro will probably define the first semi-finalist in Qatar today.
Inter fans know Brozovic well and have witnessed his impressive improvements over the years. He was first deployed as a Mezzala, but has developed into a deep-lying playmaker becoming untouchable under Antonio Conte and Simone Inzaghi.
He has become even more effective in front of the goal with Inzaghi in charge, having scored five goals in 60 matches, the same amount he netted in 88 games under Conte, now at Tottenham.
Brozovic was so important to Inter last season that the Nerazzurri didn’t win any of the three Serie A games played without the Croatia international dropping points that eventually gave Milan the edge in one of the closest title races of the last decade in Serie A.
Brozovic has become one of the best midfielders in the World at Inter and his quality in the middle of the park is vital also to Croatia. The Balkans can rely on some of the most gifted midfielders in Qatar with Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic, who played with Brozovic at Inter, completing the department.
However, Brozo’s task today is far from easy, not only because Croatia’s opponents Brazil are among the candidates to lift the trophy. Brozovic will cross paths with Casemiro, not only one of the best midfielders in the World but probably one of the best ever in the last 20 years of football.
A five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, the Brazil international may be Brazil’s only defensive midfielder, but he doesn’t lack quality as proved by his goal against Switzerland or, as many Juventus fans remember, his long-range strike in the Champions League Final against the Old Lady in 2017.
Two different styles of play will meet in midfield today and perhaps, the one emerging victorious will allow all its teammates to book a spot among the best four countries in the World.
@lorebetto