A victory with the face of Italy. Brazil beat Japan 2-1 this Monday (29), in Houston, and qualified for the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup with three protagonists of Italian blood or soul: coach Carlo Ancelotti, referee Maurizio Mariani and striker Gabriel Martinelli, who scored the winning goal in the 95th minute.
The match was tied 1-1 when Bruno Guimarães dribbled down the edge of the box and found Martinelli inside. The Arsenal striker, born in Guarulhos (SP), from a family with Italian roots, turned and shot into the corner. It was the 95th minute. Corriere della Sera described the result as a victory "in the last gasp".
The dramatic script
Japan surprised everyone by opening the scoring in the first half. In the 29th minute, Kaishu Sano stole the ball from Danilo and, according to Corriere, scored. ""A surgical low shot from the edge of the area." Brazil ended the first half losing 1-0, despite controlling 76% of possession, stumbling against what Gazzetta dello Sport called... ""Solid Japanese defensive wall."
Casemiro started the comeback in the 56th minute with a header after a cross from Gabriel Magalhães. At 34 years and 126 days old, the midfielder became the second oldest Brazilian scorer in World Cups, surpassed only by Bebeto, who scored in 1998 at 34 years and 137 days old.
Martinelli had entered the game in the 66th minute, replacing Matheus Cunha. Corriere reported the decisive play: ""An exceptional assist from Bruno Guimarães from the edge of the box, and the ball went to the Arsenal striker, who only needed to turn and shoot past goalkeeper Suzuki, who was blameless in the play."
Three connections with Italy
Corriere della Sera didn't let the coincidence go unnoticed: when announcing the referee for the match, it published... ""There's a little more of Italy here: Mariani is the referee." Maurizio Mariani, from Aprilia (Lazio), was in his third match at this World Championship. Carlo AncelottiCasemiro, born in Reggiolo, Emilia-Romagna, was in charge of the bench. And Martinelli, whose surname bears the marks of Italian immigration in the interior of São Paulo, scored the goal that qualified Brazil. The Gazzetta dello Sport summarized it in a headline: "Casemiro and Martinelli overcame Japan: Ancelotti's Brazil advances to the round of 16".
It wasn't the only unexpected connection to Italy. Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki plays for Parma, recently promoted to Serie A, and was under pressure on the other side. On Italian social media, the duel also rekindled nostalgia for the manga. Captain Tsubasa, known in Brazil and Italy as Captain TsubasaThe 1980s series depicted precisely this clash, and fans didn't miss the coincidence.
Brazil is now awaiting the winner of the match between Ivory Coast and Norway, scheduled for Tuesday in Dallas.
(With information from Corriere della Sera and La Gazzetta dello Sport)
