In thrilling World Cup clash,Brazil pulled off stunning comeback to beat Japan 2-1, booking their spot in Round of 16. Stoppage-time goal by winger Gabriel Martinelli clinched victory,showing team's grit after trailing at halftime .
Martinelli credited head coach Carlo Ancelotti for team's cool demeanor . “Ancelotti is surreal; at half-time,he gave us belief. Told us we'd score and come back. Didn't matter when goal would come. Felt his calm. It relaxed us,” Martinelli said.
Brazil entered second half down 1-0 but quickly shifted gears. Ancelotti,in his first knockout match as Brazil's coach,stressed patience against Japan's tight defense. “We didn’t lose patience. Things were already going well in first half. Second half,we put more crosses into box. Japan aren’t easy; they’re well-organised,intense,” he noted.
Equalizer came from Casemiro,leveling score before Martinelli's late winner. This was Brazil's first World Cup knockout comeback since 2002 quarterfinals. Casemiro echoed Martinelli on Ancelotti's impact,highlighting coach's calm approach while pressing high. “In second half,Ancelotti called for calm again. Insisted we stay calm while pressing high,so chances would come. Team deserves credit. We kept attacking,” he said.
As Brazil eyes next challenge,they await winner of Norway-Ivory Coast match. With Ancelotti leading,five-time champs aim to keep chasing World Cup glory…
