Casemiro Crushed After Brazil's World Cup Exit: "We Disappointed Over 210 Million"

Brazil's national team midfielder Casemiro did not hide his immense disappointment after the Seleção's elimination from the FIFA World Cup. In an emotional interview following the loss to Norway, he expressed his sadness over the missed opportunity to bring joy to millions of his compatriots.

"All Brazilians are disappointed after we were eliminated once again. We are sad because we gave absolutely everything to achieve our goal," Casemiro told The Associated Press. "I believe we were better than Norway throughout the entire match, but that's football."

The defensive midfielder, who broke down in tears during the interview, added that the team had failed to live up to the high expectations.

"It just didn't turn out the way we wanted. We have the potential to go far, but today we didn't meet the expectations of over 210 million Brazilians," he further stated.

In another comment, quoted by Caze TV after the 1-2 loss to Norway, which for the first time in 36 years left Brazil out of the quarterfinals, Casemiro once again voiced his pain.

"It's hard to say anything. It's every Brazilian child's dream to win the World Cup. I had three chances and I consider it a privilege. I am very proud of what I and all the players achieved here. We tried very hard and worked diligently. We know we disappointed over 210 million Brazilians, but life goes on. In moments like this, I just want to be with my family," the footballer shared.

Despite the difficult moment, Casemiro emphasized that he remains proud to wear the national jersey. "It's very hard to speak right now, but we have to move forward. I am happy to be part of the Brazilian national team, but today is a tough day for us," he concluded.