Brazil came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 in the last-32 of the 2026 World Cup.
Japan got off to the better start and took a 1-0 lead into half-time, courtesy of Kaishu Sano’s 29th-minute strike.
Carlo Ancelotti had his work cut out, making a few tactical changes in an attempt to swing the game in their favour. It took Brazil just over 10 minutes into the second half to get their equaliser, with Casemiro scoring a header.
But Gabriel Martinelli was their saviour off the bench, scoring a late winner in the 95th minute to send Brazil through and Japan packing.
Brazil vs Japan analysis
Japan’s 5-4-1 defensive shape
Japan are known for being well-drilled out of possession. They set up in their 3-4-2-1 shape and drop into a 5-2-3 when they don’t have the ball.
However, with Brazil controlling plenty of the ball in the earlier stages, Japan often collapsed fairly quickly into a 5-4-1 shape. This allowed them to block central access for Brazil, with good positioning for Japan’s wide men to double up when needed.
Brazil have been looking to build through the middle in recent weeks. Ancelotti has been using Vinicius Junior as an inside forward to pin the opposition backline, and make runs in behind to finish off moves.
Japan’s 5-4-1 shape did well to neutralise that threat. Takehiro Tomiyasu was able to step in with Vinicius Jr, while Ritsu Doan provided extra support to block the channel.
While this shape did give Japan a good foundation defensively, it was actually their slightly-more aggressive 5-2-3 midblock that helped them find the opener.
Coming out from the first hydration break was one of the only occasions in which Japan were set in their 5-2-3 further forward.
Following some loose possession and turnovers from both sides in the middle third, the space opened up after a failed Brazil counter. Sano picked up the ball and had all three attackers ahead of him in central areas. They made their runs and opened the space for him to carry the ball and get his shot away, opening the scoring.
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Brazil’s half-time tweaks
Brazil had only manage to take take shots in the first half, posting 0.35 Expected Goals and no big chances created.
Ancelotti identified where the space was against Japan’s defensive scheme, making a few key tweaks at half-time.
Vinicius Jr started to take up positions on the touchline more often, as opposed to drifting inside. Rayan did the same on the opposite flank, looking to stretch Japan’s defensive line.
Brazil’s full-backs stayed in the wider areas too, providing double width and stretching the Japan midfield line. This allowed both of Brazil’s No.8s to push higher alongside Endrick, who came on at half-time, getting more bodies into the box.
By stretching the block and looking to exploit wide isolations using double width, Brazil began to deliver more crosses into the box in the second half.
They managed just 12 crosses in the first half, but that number increased to 28 after the break. And this led to their equaliser. Brazil were able to continuously sink Japan’s defensive line deeper, by putting more crosses into the box. It allowed them to sustain pressure.
After a number of consecutive crosses, Vinicius Jr picked up the ball from a clearance, setting it back for Gabriel who found Casemiro at the back post. Brazil were back level.
Martinelli and Guimaraes save the day
Another key change came midway through the second half. Martinelli came on to replace Matheus Cunha, playing as the left-sided No.8 in the half-space.
It initially felt as though Martinelli was set to help Vinicius Jr with wide attacks, to find more crossing scenarios. But it was actually Martinelli who found himself in the box to finish off a chance in the dying embers of the game.
After losing the ball at the top of the box, Rayan was quick to help Endrick win it back. This allowed Brazil to access the space between Japan’s defensive and midfield lines.
Bruno Guimaraes picked up the ball on the edge of the box and looked like he was shaping up to shoot. But a moment of patience from the Brazilian midfielder allowed him to pick out Martinelli between the wide centre-back and wing-back.
Martinelli took it nicely on his back foot, setting himeslf to hit the ball quickly with his second touch. He opened his body to find the bottom right corner, with his shot going in off the post after Zion Suzuki’s touch — which wasn’t enough to keep it out.
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