Brazil avoided a World Cup upset as they battled back to defeat a determined Japan side 2-1 and advance to the last 16. Kaishu Sano's opener sent pulses racing in Houston, but the South American fightback materialised in the second half as Casemiro and then Gabriel Martinelli found the net. Carlo Ancelotti is now on track for a showdown with Thomas Tuchel in Miami.
Japan's Early Shock
Sano sparked thoughts of a shock when he netted the breakthrough just shy of the half-hour mark, gliding past Casemiro before drilling home a low effort from 20 yards that beat Alisson's outstretched glove. Brazil's expected response arrived early in the second period, with Bruno Guimaraes seeing a header kept out before the Japanese rearguard and keeper somehow thwarted Casemiro from close quarters.
Casemiro Levels the Score
The former Manchester United midfielder wouldn't be frustrated for long, nodding home a leveller at the far post shortly before the hour. Vinicius Jnr nearly scored one of the World Cup's finest individual efforts as he glided through the Japanese backline, only to watch Zion Suzuki produce a superb left-handed save to tip his attempt against the woodwork. Ancelotti turned to Gabriel Martinelli, who was handed the opportunity to send Brazil through to the last 16 in the dying moments and the Arsenal star displayed flawless composure to convert.
England Still in Sights
The weight of expectation on Brazil is always enormous and presently their drought for a World Cup victory stretches to 24 years. They've appointed Ancelotti in an attempt to inject some European nous, but the Italian was staring down one of the greatest modern upsets at the interval. Brazil have frequently stumbled at the quarter-final stage, crashing out in the last eight in four of the previous five tournaments, but tumbling out in the Round of 32 would've left hearts broken across the Copacabana. Instead the fantasy remains alive, even if there are undoubtedly weaknesses in this Brazilian squad.
Brazil's Exposed Midfield
It was seldom exposed during the group phase, mainly due to their standard of opposition and their supremacy, but deploying Casemiro as the anchor always left them vulnerable to being overwhelmed. In Lucas Paqueta and Guimaraes he had two midfielders aged 28 alongside him. This meant that, should Japan manage to penetrate behind or turn quickly they consistently possessed the opportunity to outpace the Brazilian midfield. The danger signals were evident before the opener, resulting in Casemiro receiving a booking, with the problem further highlighted when Japan seized the advantage.
Carlo's Gamble Pays Off
All that being said, while it is well documented that Casemiro doesn't possess the pace and energy he commanded a decade ago, the Brazilian has not lost his knack for finding the net when it matters most. He's been demonstrating this during the final few months of his time at Old Trafford, and now on the World Cup stage. With Casemiro carrying a yellow card and being hunted in midfield, all logic pointed towards withdrawing him at the interval, but Ancelotti chose to substitute Paqueta and bring on Endrick instead. Casemiro may have been a red card waiting to happen, but he's also a goalscoring opportunity ready to strike, and strike he did.
Japan One for the Future?
Certainly this would've been a surprise, without question, but perhaps not on the magnitude that some might believe. Japan have been World Cup regulars without ever truly making their mark, but in the months building up to this tournament they've been laying down a marker. England supporters will inevitably recall them claiming victory at Wembley, however much they might prefer to erase that memory. The Japanese seized the advantage that evening and never truly relinquished it. Few could dispute they were anything other than deserving winners, which only boosted their belief further. Japan haven't been much of a powerhouse in international football, but that could all be set to transform in the years ahead.
Miami Showdown and English Consequences
This fixture was always destined to influence England's path to the final, assuming they themselves don't fall victim to an upset this week. Brazil had been touted as potential quarter-final opponents, with the South Americans perhaps holding a slight edge as favourites. At the interval, those with English allegiances might have been hoping for a shock result, potentially handing Tuchel's team a kinder route through the competition. Instead, the Brazil quarter-final clash remains very much a possibility, though Japan have demonstrated they can certainly be vulnerable.
