Martinelli the hero and Casemiro's redemption : Brazil 2-1 Japan at World Cup 2026

Brazil suffered but got the occupation done, beating Japan 2-1 astatine Houston Stadium connected Monday to scope the past 16 of the 2026 World Cup. Goals from Casemiro and Gabriel Martinelli — 2 of Carlo Ancelotti's cardinal interventions from the seat — secured the triumph successful a lucifer wherever Brazil recovered themselves repeatedly incapable to header with Japan's antiaircraft organisation.

After a affirmative commencement successful Texas, the Selecao were caught retired by Kaishu Sano, who punished a antiaircraft mistake by Danilo to manus Japan the lead. In the 2nd half, with greater power and attacking volume, Brazil recovered to implicit the comeback successful the past 32.

Vinicius Junior and Matheus Cunha, some salient successful the opening 2 matches, produced quieter showings. Bruno Guimaraes and Rayan were erstwhile again cardinal to the winning goal: the Newcastle midfielder delivered his 4th assistance of the tournament, portion the Bournemouth guardant stole possession to trigger Martinelli's decisive strike.

Brazil present await the victor of the necktie betwixt Norway and Ivory Coast successful the past 16, with their adjacent fixture scheduled for Sunday 5 July astatine 9pm BST.

A precocious extremity sees Brazil into the adjacent round! ??#FIFAWorldCup

Brazil subordinate ratings vs Japan

GOALKEEPER

Alisson — 5.5/10

Beaten by Sano's decorativeness — Japan's lone changeable connected people — and seldom tested successful the 2nd period. Did not enactment a ft incorrect erstwhile Brazil went up and were managing the result.

DEFENDERS

Danilo — 5.5/10

Played successful a much precocious presumption than successful caller matches arsenic Brazil struggled to interruption done Japan's antiaircraft lines. His miscued walk straight led to Sano's opener. Recovered good successful the 2nd fractional to bounds further Japanese advances.

Gabriel Magalhaes — 7.5/10

Could not get a artifact connected Sano's decorativeness for the opener but was different coagulated throughout. Delivered the transverse that Casemiro converted to equalise, past attempted a akin shot for Rayan. A beardown wide display.

Marquinhos — 7/10

Nervy successful the aboriginal stages but composed himself earlier Japan's extremity and did not fto his level driblet thereafter.

Douglas Santos — 7.5/10

Disciplined and untroubled defensively, though his attacking publication was constricted during Brazil's first-half struggles to interruption down Japan's block. Grew into the crippled successful the 2nd half, combining good with Vinicius Junior connected the left.

MIDFIELDERS

Casemiro — 7/10

Operated arsenic the archetypal midfielder up of the antiaircraft enactment and doubled arsenic a originative outlet. However, a yellowish paper aboriginal successful the archetypal fractional illustrated his trouble tracking the Japanese attack, and helium was outpaced by Sano for the goal. Struggled to make against Japan's antiaircraft solidity, but redeemed himself wholly with the equaliser earlier leaving the transportation exhausted precocious successful the 2nd half.

Casemiro says crippled on! ??#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/16Cb8IOktd

Bruno Guimaraes — 7.5/10

Three bully efforts successful the opening exchanges, getting guardant connected some flanks and uncovering Rayan early. Functioned arsenic a de facto 4th attacker and was Brazil's astir unsafe subordinate earlier Japan's opener. Delivered the decisive walk for Martinelli's victor and takes his tally to 4 tourney assists.

Lucas Paqueta — 4.5/10

After encouraging performances and signs of betterment successful the midfield, helium reverted to benignant here, struggling to make and find space. Positioned adjacent to Douglas Santos successful the archetypal half, helium was among the heaviest losers of possession and impeded Brazil's quality to advancement up the pitch.

FORWARDS

Vinicius Junior — 7.5/10

Quiet successful the opening play but a importantly improved second-half showing from a presumption person to the near wing. It was from that country that helium fashioned Brazil's champion opportunities and helped pin Japan back.

Rayan — 7/10

Struggled to enforce himself successful the archetypal fractional but grew into the match, taking amended touches and carrying much authority. Created openings and unsettled Japan's antiaircraft line. His precocious interception straight acceptable up Martinelli's winner.

Matheus Cunha — 6/10

Had a genuine accidental aboriginal successful the archetypal fractional portion operating alongside Bruno Guimaraes. Moved intelligently betwixt channels successful onslaught but could not replicate the interaction helium had against Haiti and Scotland. Took connected a much cardinal relation astatine the commencement of the 2nd fractional earlier being withdrawn for Martinelli.

SUBSTITUTES

Endrick — 6.5/10

Introduced by Ancelotti to displacement the dynamic, operating some done the mediate and retired wide. Carried much menace than Paqueta and contributed to the measurement of chances Brazil created successful pursuit of the equaliser.

Gabriel Martinelli — 7/10

Came connected for Cunha to adhd strength to Brazil's property connected Japan's build-up play and became the lucifer victor the Selecao needed. Receiving the shot from Bruno Guimaraes successful stoppage time, helium sealed the effect and the transition to the past 16.

Fabinho — 6/10

Casemiro says crippled on! ??#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/16Cb8IOktd

Japan subordinate ratings vs Brazil

GOALKEEPER

Zion Suzuki — 7/10

Praised by Ancelotti up of kick-off, helium was composed and untroubled successful the archetypal half, past had to woody with sustained unit passim the 2nd period. Produced a superb prevention to contradict Vinicius Junior 1 of the goals of the tournament, and was cardinal to keeping Japan successful beforehand until Casemiro's equaliser.

DEFENDERS

Shogo Taniguchi — 6.5/10

Hiroki Ito — 6/10

Takehiro Tomiyasu — 6/10

MIDFIELDERS

Ritsu Doan — 6/10

One of Japan's standout players during the radical stage, helium made a agleam commencement and caused problems successful Brazil's antiaircraft operation connected the counter. Lost power successful the 2nd fractional arsenic Brazil's unit grew.

Keito Nakamura — 6/10

Daichi Kamada — 5/10

Kaishu Sano — 7.5/10

Booked aboriginal on, yet inactive produced the infinitesimal of the archetypal fractional — intercepting Danilo's misplaced walk successful the attacking 3rd and finishing to springiness Japan the lead.

FORWARDS

Daizen Maeda — 5/10

Junya Ito — 6.5/10

Japan's astir unsafe outlet connected the counter. Repeatedly troubled Brazil's exposed near side, wherever Douglas Santos struggled to connection capable protection.

Ayase Ueda — 5/10

The closest Japan had to a penalty-area beingness up front, but seldom recovered himself successful positions to endanger the Brazilian backline.

SUBSTITUTES

Yukinari Sugawara — 6/10

Yuito Suzuki — 5.5/10

Ao Tanaka — Not rated

Shuto Machino — Not rated