Casemiro revealed the secret of Brazil's victory over Japan in the 2026 World Cup playoffs

Brazil almost rewrote World Cup history with a minus sign, coming one step away from their first ever defeat by an Asian team and their earliest exit from the tournament since the 1966 group stage. After the goal of the Japanese Kaishu Sano in the 29th minute, Seleção was threatened with a loud sensation, but the leadership qualities and the crucial goal of Casemiro changed the course of the meeting. In the second half, it was Casemiro who equalized the score, which became the starting point for Gabriel Martinelli scored the winning point in the 95th minute. After the exhausting match of the 1/16 finals, the author of the first scored goal emphasized that there was no panic in the ranks of the team. "The win was the result of our calmness and patience as we put pressure on a team that blocked low. That was the most important aspect, believing that this calmness would one day lead to us scoring," explained Casemiro. The midfielder paid tribute to his opponent, but emphasized the total dominance of his team: "We fought all game and had the ball, so we knew we would have chances. Japan are really organized defensively, but we were very good in the second half and won the match." Casemiro did not hide his emotions from the result, stressing that he is incredibly proud to see how the Brazilian people celebrate this success. At the same time, he urged the team to think strategically and stay focused on the main goal. "We are looking forward to the 1/8 finals, but now we need to rest and think that we have four matches ahead of us," the Brazilian summed up, hinting at the path to the finals. However, the triumph of the Brazilians came at a great price. Casemiro himself, as well as the ex-defender of West Ham, Lucas Paqueta, could not finish the match due to injuries. The head coach of the national team, Carlo Ancelotti, admitted that the match seemed very demanding, and in the near future doctors will assess whether the leaders will be able to help the team in the next round. Brazil now prepares for the Round of 16 against Norway or Ivory Coast on July 5 in New Jersey. And as the stoppage time hero Gabriel Martinelli emotionally added: the whole team will continue to give their all to bring joy to their country.