Cunha had been on a hot streak for Brazil, but he could not add to his goal tally as Brazil fell 2-1 to Norway, with Erling Haaland scoring both goals for the Norwegians.
For Manchester United fans, the silver lining is that Cunha is expected to return for pre-season training, which begins on July 9.
Match statistics for Cunha and Casemiro show different involvement levels. Cunha played 58 minutes, recording 23 touches, 3 ball carries, an 88% pass completion rate (7 of 8), 4 defensive contributions, 1 penalty won, and 25% duels won (1 of 4). He was limited by a lack of service as Brazil’s central forward, managing only 23 touches and seven completed passes.
Notably, Cunha and Casemiro each won penalties for Brazil during the match. The first penalty was missed by Bruno Guimarães, while Neymar converted the second.
Casemiro played the full 90 minutes, finishing with 47 touches and a 92% pass completion rate (34 of 37). He contributed 2 key passes and 3 defensive actions, and won 2 of 5 duels (40%).
In other World Cup news, there was pre-match talk about Ederson potentially joining Brazil, with ongoing discussions about the timing of his move. Ederson, who was brought into the squad as an injury replacement, had limited minutes in the group stage. The decision to leave him on the bench for the Norway match drew attention, as some expected him to feature more prominently.
The World Cup continues to showcase the depth of talent among Manchester United players, with several participants advancing to the knockout rounds and continuing their nations’ campaigns.
