World Cup Story Feed
World Cup Story Feed
Moriyasu Hajime stated before the match: "Our goal is to win the World Cup. We might be laughed at, but this time we are serious."
Before the match, Moriho said: "Our goal is to win the World Cup. People might laugh at us, but this time we're serious."
24 hours later, Cunha fired back with five World Cup titles.
The tough talk before the match was picked up by the opponent after the game and used as a slap in the face.
In the 29th minute, Sato Kaito almost made the Japanese believe in miracles.
He intercepted a casual cross from Brazil, dribbled through the middle, and fired a low shot into the bottom left corner. His first national team goal, against five-time champions Brazil. The Japanese stands at Houston's NRG Stadium erupted.
English football fans called the pass "lazy"—careless, sloppy, a gift. Japan held onto that weakness tightly. In the first half, Japan had less than 40% possession and was pressed deep into their own half. But their defense was airtight. Goalkeeper Suzuki Seiyan saved a shot from Vinícius Jr., and Tomiyasu Kenyo even blocked one with his face. The entire defense was compressed like a sardine can; Brazil kept the ball like a rosary but rarely created real chances.
In the 56th minute, Arsenal defender Gabriel crossed from the left, and Casemiro headed it into the net. The veteran reminded Ancelotti he still has gas left in the tank.
Paquetá left the field injured, and Endrick came on as a substitute. That substitution turned Brazil's attack from casual strolling into a meat grinder. Japan's defense was battered repeatedly; cracks were bound to appear.
In the 90+5th minute.
Substitute Rayan intercepted the ball in midfield, Bruno Guimarães picked it up, and passed to Martinelli. The Arsenal forward unleashed a right-footed rocket; the ball hit Suzuki, then the far post, and finally rolled into the net.
Goal.
This is Martinelli's specialty. His only Premier League goal this season was also as a substitute, also in the 93rd minute, to equalize against Manchester City. Two substitutions, two stoppage-time goals, two clutch moments.
This shot shattered Brazil's 24-year curse—since 2002, they had never come back from conceding first in a knockout match. And it shattered Japan's dream of reaching the quarterfinals for the fifth time.
2002, 2010, 2018, 2022, 2026. Five times in the first knockout round, five times out. Japan has never made the World Cup quarterfinals. In 2018, in Rostov, Japan led Belgium 2-0, only to lose 3-2 in stoppage time on a counterattack. NHK made a frame-by-frame documentary, "The 14 Seconds of Rostov." Eight years later, the Houston version of "14 Seconds" premiered on time.
After the match, Taniguchi Sho revealed: "The gap with the World Cup champions is still huge." Japanese fans on social media are calling for Moriyasu to stay. Taking the team to fight Brazil until the 95th minute—few coaches can do that. But being eliminated at the last moment again means staying won't erase those five failures.
At the final whistle, Cunha signaled "5" to the Japanese stands, referring to Brazil's five World Cup titles.
Five stars against zero. Brazil narrowly avoided one of their earliest World Cup exits in decades. On July 5th, in New Jersey, against Ivory Coast or Norway, Ancelotti won't have this kind of luck every time.