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Casemiro set to captain Brazil in first game under new coach.
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is set to captain Brazil in their debut game under interim head coach Ramon Menezes.
Casemiro has led his country 10 times for his former manager Tite over the past several years, so this won’t be his first time. Being given the armband for the first game in a new era, even if it is temporary, is a big step.
Casemiro will lead Brazil out against World Cup semi-finalists Morocco at the Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier on Saturday evening.
The 31-year-old was referred to in the first report from the Brazilian site Globoesporte as a “leader and reference” for younger players.
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Menezes has only chosen 10 of the 26 players that travelled to Qatar after Brazil’s quarterfinal loss on penalties forced Tite to resign after six years in management.
The squad has an experimental flavour to it, featuring a number of Brazil-based players and 10 uncapped newcomers – many of whom are under the age of 22. Neymar likely would have been involved but for injury, while Marquinhos and Richarlison both had to withdraw.
Games where Casemiro has been Brazil captain
- Bolivia 0-0 Brazil – 5 October 2017 (World Cup qualifier)
- Panama 1-1 Brazil – 23 March 2019 (Friendly)
- Peru 1-0 Brazil – 11 September 2019 (Friendly)
- Brazil 5-0 Bolivia – 10 October 2020 (World Cup qualifier)
- Brazil 2-0 Ecuador – 5 June 2021 (World Cup qualifier)
- Paraguay 0-2 Brazil – 9 June 2021 (World Cup qualifier)
- Brazil 3-0 Venezuela – 13 June 2021 (Copa America)
- Chile 0-1 Brazil – 3 September 2021 (World Cup qualifier)
- Brazil 2-0 Peru – 10 September 2021 (World Cup qualifier)
- Ecuador 1-1 Brazil – 27 January 2022 (World Cup qualifier)