Texas [US], June 30 (ANI): Former Brazil nice Ronaldinho congratulated the nationwide group after its hard-fought 2-1 victory over Japan secured a spot within the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
In a publish on X, Ronaldinho stated he was delighted to witness Brazil’s qualification up shut and praised the gamers and head coach Carlo Ancelotti for the group’s decided efficiency.
‘So glad concerning the qualification and for being up shut dwelling all this!!!!! Hard-fought win towards an amazing opponent… Congrats to the Mister, all of the gamers, and will all the things maintain going nicely,’ Ronaldinho wrote.
https://x.com/10Ronaldinho/status/2071760558739583421?s=20
Gabriel Martinelli scored a dramatic Ninety fifth-minute winner as Brazil mounted an exhilarating second-half comeback to defeat Japan 2-1, securing a hard-fought ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 in entrance of a packed stadium on Monday (native time).
Japan shocked the five-time world champions within the first half when Kaishu Sano intercepted a free ball deep inside his personal half. Sano launched into a superb 40-yard solo dash earlier than drilling a fierce strike previous Alisson to make it 1-0.
After a irritating first half the place Japan’s Zion Suzuki remained largely untroubled,
Brazil intensified the stress. Gabriel Magalhaes curled a exact cross towards the again publish, permitting veteran midfielder Casemiro to rise highest and energy a header dwelling, levelling the sport at 1-1.
With the match trying destined for further time, Danilo received the ball again deep in transition, discovering Endrick. The teenager well laid it off for Bruno Guimaraes, who slid an ideal move to an unmarked Gabriel Martinelli contained in the field. Martinelli took a composed contact and slotted it into the far nook, squeezing it previous a determined Suzuki to seal the 2-1 victory.
Brazil advances to the Round of 16, the place they are going to face both Ivory Coast or Norway on July 5 on the New York New Jersey Stadium.
While this Round of 32 conflict within the expanded 2026 format produced an immediate traditional, matchups between these two nations on soccer’s grandest stage are exceedingly uncommon.
Before this 2026 encounter, Brazil and Japan had confronted one another solely as soon as in FIFA World Cup historical past: Germany 2006. Much just like the 2026 match, Japan truly took a shock lead by way of Keiji Tamada within the thirty fourth minute.
However, a star-studded Selecao stormed again with a brace from Ronaldo, alongside objectives from Juninho Pernambucano and Gilberto to safe a cushty 4-1 victory.
History closely favours Brazil on this matchup. Across 15 conferences, the Selecao have received 12, with 2 attracts and only a single loss. But that one defeat looms giant. Months earlier than this match, Japan pulled off a surprising 3-2 pleasant win in Tokyo — their first ever towards the South Americans. (ANI)