Casemiro: "Thank You Very Much for Your Support, Bangladesh"

Casemiro was one of the key heroes in Brazil's 2-1 victory over Japan that took them to the Round of 16. His second-half equalizer brought Brazil back level, before Martinelli drove the final nail into Japan's coffin. After winning the Man of the Match award, Casemiro took a moment in the mixed zone to thank Bangladeshi fans when speaking to journalists.

Whenever the World Cup comes around, Bangladesh's football scene splits into two camps—Brazil and Argentina. Despite Brazil not winning a title for 24 years, millions of Bangladeshi supporters continue to back them. On the night of Brazil's victory, celebrations were vibrant across Bangladesh, and Casemiro is well aware of this support. In response to a question from a Bangladeshi journalist, Casemiro said, "Thank you very much for your support, Bangladesh."

Speaking about the team's performance, Casemiro said, "This victory came from our calm mentality and patience. When Japan defended with their whole team in a low block, we didn't rush; we kept attacking wave after wave. We believed in ourselves that if we kept our heads cool, we would get our goal. We still have four more matches to win. Now it's time to rest and plan for the next game."

However, amid the joy, there is also some bad news. Goalscorer Casemiro and midfielder Lucas Paquetá had to leave the pitch before the final whistle. Whether they will be available for next week's knockout match is not yet certain, according to coach Carlo Ancelotti: "The match was extremely exhausting, both physically and mentally. We need to wait 24 hours to understand the severity of Casemiro and Paquetá's injuries. We can only decide after the tests."