FIFA World Cup 2018: 5 defensive midfielders to watch out for

#2 Casemiro- Brazil

Casemiro has 22 caps for Brazil

In a star-studded Brazilian team, that has some of the deadliest attacking players in the world, it will be Casemiro who will be the pivotal midfielder. The 26-year-old provides the base for the free-flowing Brazil attacks. Unlike Kante, the Real Madrid star also has the ability to come up with a screamer very now and then. He's Brazilian, so were you really surprised?

Casemiro’s most obvious contribution is the defensive coverage he provides. Often praised for his tackling prowess, Casemiro's presence could be the key to unlocking the potential that the likes of Neymar, Coutinho and Jesus possess.

In the build-up phase, Casemiro is useful for freeing up the creative-midfielders, allowing them to move between the lines and alternate their line-up and thanks to his technical qualities, he can also be useful in taking off pressure.

With Paulinho and Fernandinho having a great domestic season so far, the defensive-midfield position is up for grabs in the Brazilian team. However, the former is back from a stint in China and the latter is 32 years old and had a gruelling season with Manchester City already, so Casemiro is perhaps the favourite to start come June.