Manchester United's Casemiro and Matheus Cunha began their national team duty with a loss ahead of the World Cup this summer
Casemiro and Matheus Cunha in action for Brazil
Casemiro and Matheus Cunha fell to defeat on Thursday as France got the better of Brazil(Image: Icon Sport via Getty Images)
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Casemiro and Matheus Cunha couldn't stop Brazil from falling to a 2-1 loss to France in a glamorous friendly clash.
The Manchester United duo both started for Carlo Ancelotti in Thursday's match at Gillette Stadium - the home of the NFL's New England Patriots. Playing in front of a crowd of 66,215 attendees, the turnout was the largest to watch a football match at the Foxborough ground since Brazil's friendly against Mexico in 2007.
The Selecao came out on top in the match 19 years ago, but history failed to repeat itself with the five-time World Cup winners losing to Didier Deschamps' team. It was Kylian Mbappe who opened the scoring in the first-half with a delightful chip over Ederson before Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike doubled the scoring with a similar finish past the ex-Manchester City goalkeeper.
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Brazil managed to pull a goal back through defender Gleison Bremer but couldn't muster up enough to level the scoring with France earning a confidence-boosting win ahead of the biggest tournament in international football this summer.
Casemiro played 84 minutes with Cunha lasting 71 minutes in a disappointing night for the South American giants. Brazilian media outlets had their say on the performances from the United pair who've enjoyed recent success at club level.
Globo
Casemiro - the captain of Brazil - was playing his 83rd game for his country but was awarded a mere 5/10 by newspaper Globo, which lamented his role in France's opener. The 34-year-old was dispossessed by Aurelien Tchouameni before Ousmane Dembele's through ball gave Mbappe an easy finish in the box.
Despite his error, the outlet also focused on some of the better aspects of his 84 minutes on the pitch. They wrote: "He faltered on France’s first goal, being dispossessed and giving rise to the counter-attack.
France's defender #04 Dayot Upamecano (L) vies with Brazil's forward #07 Matheus Cunha during a friendly football match between Brazil and France
Matheus Cunha has only scored one goal in 20 appearances for Brazil(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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"On the other hand, he was important both with and without the ball. He made good passes, attempted shots, and worked hard to close down spaces and make tackles." Cunha was also given a 5/10 rating with Globo taking aim at his lack of potency in the final third.
They added: "He moved around a lot to provide passing options and help create plays. He only took one shot, in the 34th minute of the first half, from outside the penalty area."
ESPN Brasil
Brazil's Raphinha and Casemiro, right, remonstrate with referee Guido Gonzales Jr. during the international friendly soccer match between Brazil and France
Casemiro was at fault for Kylian Mbappe's opener(Image: AP)
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ESPN Brasil was also on hand to react to the defeat with Casemiro once again given a 5/10 rating. The outlet slammed his reaction after partially gifting France their opening goal. They commented: "He was dominating the midfield until he made the mistake that led to the counter-attack and Mbappe’s goal, which opened the scoring. He had moments of losing control with the referee and a rather discreet performance until the end."
Cunha was handed an identical rating by the outlet, which took exception to his lack of threat in front of goal. The report analysed: "Good runs and ball control, but without contributing as much to the attack as one would expect from someone in his position. Only one shot in the first half, which went wide to Maignan's left."
Folha de S.Paulo
Folha de S.Paulo echoed the sentiments of their fellow national media outlets in bemoaning the minimal action France's Mike Maignan had to deal with despite a star-studded attacking line-up, including Cunha.
They wrote: "The quartet formed by Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Matheus Cunha and Gabriel Martinelli hardly gave the French goalkeeper Mike Maignan any trouble." They did mention the key role Cunha played in the red card handed to Dayot Upamecano.
They also added: "The defender received a yellow card after fouling Matheus Cunha at the edge of the area. After reviewing the play on video, the referee opted to send off the defender directly, considering it a clear goal-scoring opportunity."
Estedao
Cunha - who has scored just seven goals in 30 games across all competitions for United this season - has failed to show the same form he displayed at Wolves as Estedao analysed his failure in turning the game on its head, alongside his fellow forwards.
They said: "Raphinha, Vini, and Martinelli moved around a lot, but did little. With four forwards – Matheus Cunha being the other – there was no one to orchestrate the game, to speed up or slow down the pace when necessary. Poor decisions in finishing plays cost the Brazilian team dearly, who shot five times and missed the target in all of them in the first half."