Tokyo: Japan completed a superb second-half turnaround to secure a first-ever victory over Brazil in their international friendly in Tokyo. Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil initially took the lead 26 minutes into the match when Paulo Henrique scored following a pass from Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli quickly followed up with another goal, making it a two-goal lead for Brazil after receiving a pass from West Ham's Lucas Paqueta.
According to BBC, despite Brazil's recent 5-0 victory over South Korea in another friendly, they were unable to maintain their advantage against Japan in this match. Brazil's captain Casemiro expressed his disappointment in an interview with Brazilian TV Globo, highlighting the team's complete lapse in focus during the second half. He emphasized the importance of staying alert, noting that such mistakes could have significant consequences in major tournaments like the upcoming World Cup.
Casemiro was among several Premier League players featured in Ancelotti's lineup, alongside Guimaraes, Martinelli, and Paqueta. The second half saw substitutions including Chelsea winger Estevao, Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha, Newcastle midfielder Joelinton, and Tottenham striker Richarlison, yet the team was unable to counter Japan's comeback.
Ancelotti acknowledged the mental collapse of his team post the initial error, attributing the loss to this psychological setback. Meanwhile, Japan's coach Hajime Moriyasu encouraged his players to celebrate the historic result, while also urging them to use this victory as a stepping stone for further achievements in official competitions.
Japan has already secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup, with Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada starting the match and Leeds United midfielder Ao Tanaka entering as a second-half substitute.