Bryan Robson names Manchester United duo Raphael Varane and Casemiro in World Cup XI
Manchester United icon Bryan Robson has named France international Raphael Varane and Brazil star Casemiro in his combined 2022 World Cup XI. The ex-Red Devil feels the two former Real Madrid stars were some of the best players at the prestigious tournament.
The centre-back made it to the final, where Les Bleus eventually lost to Argentina. On the other hand, the defensive midfielder made it to the quarter-finals with the Canarinho. However, Tite’s team suffered a shock loss to Croatia.
Varane and Casemiro showed their quality throughout the fixtures they played in Qatar. Speaking to the Daily Mail (h/t Metro), Robson, who made 90 appearances for England during his playing career, feels the French and Brazilian duo showcased their talent on the biggest stage.
“I’ll probably get accused of Manchester United bias, but Varane has been a huge influence on France’s defence all the way through and held them together with his composure and anticipation.
“[Casemiro] oozes calmness in the centre of the park and is an excellent passer of the ball. If you look, he plays a subtle role in a lot of Brazil’s best build-up play and he scored a cracking goal against Switzerland when his country truly needed him.”
The 29-year-old missed the opening fixture for Didier Deschamps’ team against Australia. However, he played a part in every game for the 2018 World Cup winners until the final.
On the other hand, Casemiro was pivotal for the South Americans as he scored in their second group-stage fixture against Switzerland to give Tite’s team a 1-0 victory. However, Zlatko Dalic’s men crashed the Canarinho out on penalties.
The 30-year-old has made an impact during his short time in Manchester. United signed the defensive midfielder from Madrid in the summer of 2022. Initially, it took him a bit of time to get into Erik ten Hag’s plans.
Initially, Scott McTominay kept Casemiro out of the starting lineup. However, since his first Premier League start against Everton, the Brazilian has not looked back.
Varane made his way to the Old Trafford side last year. However, the defender’s debut season was a bit underwhelming. However, alongside 2022 World Cup winner Lisandro Martinez, the French centre-back has looked solid.
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United are lucky to have two players who possess the ability and experience of Varane and Casemiro. The two have won major silverware over the years. Hopefully, they can replicate a bit of that success in Manchester in the coming time.
