Midfield reunion of Casemiro and Modric can tilt the World Cup's axis

At Education City Stadium, the former Real Madrid teammates will share the middle ground again

FULCRUM: Croatia's midfielder #10 Luka Modric (C). Pic: JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

A couple of weeks ago, on the first Saturday of this World Cup, Casemiro was on media duties for the first time at Brazil’s Doha base, Al Arabi Sports Club in the southern suburbs.

Most of the world’s press were too focused on matters up the road at Lusail later that night, when Lionel Messi would take on Mexico and drag Argentina back into the tournament. Thankfully though, the Brazilians present were quick to ask Casemiro the most pressing question: who would be his preferred partner in anchoring things in the Seleção engine room for the upcoming clash with Switzerland?