<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Neymar has lauded Casemiro as "the best midfielder in the world" after the latter fired Brazil into the knockout rounds of the World Cup against Switzerland.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>After sustaining an ankle injury in the Selecao's opening Group G match, the Paris Saint-Germain attacker was forced to watch his team's second match from their hotel.</div><div><br></div><div>In a cagey encounter, it was the Manchester United midfielder's late strike that earned Brazil a 1-0 win, and Neymar was succinctly effusive in his praise for his team-mate after the final whistle.</div><div><br></div><div>"Casemiro has been the best midfielder in the world for a long time," the forward simply wrote on Twitter after the match.</div><div><br></div><div>Having left it late to seal victory - his 83rd-minute goal was the second-latest winner for Brazil in a World Cup match, after beating Costa Rica in 2018 - Casemiro's intervention proved crucial for Tite's side.</div><div><br></div><div>When asked by Stats Perform in his post-match press conference on whether he agreed with Neymar, Tite replied: "As a habit, I always respect opinions, but do not comment on them.</div><div><br></div><div>"But I will allow myself to do so today. I agree."</div><div><br></div><div>Explaining why he elected to play the 30-year-old in a deeper position, he added: "Casemiro is a second midfielder, that’s what we saw happen.</div><div><br></div><div>"He works as a central player, he’s a surprise element from the back. If Casemiro is already high, it's easy to be marked, but when he comes from the back he can be a surprise."</div><div><br></div><div>Brazil wrap up their Group G campaign against Cameroon on December 2. Source: yahoo! sport</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>