Brazil breathes again.The five-time World Cup winners were in danger of slumping to a historic low in the tournament they have dominated more than any other nation after going behind to Japan in Houston.Carlo Ancelotti’s side were insipid in the first half but an inspired comeback — capped by goals from Casemiro and a last-gasp winner from Gabriel Martinelli — sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory and a place in the last 16, where they will face Norway or Ivory Coast.
Here, The Athletic’s experts analyse the major talking points.
How big could this be for Brazil?The margin looked tight, but Brazil more than deserved to beat Japan and progress to the last 16.
Had Brazil gone out, it would arguably have been their worst performance at a World Cup — if not their most traumatic, with the 2014 semi-final in mind — since 1966, in terms of progress into the tournament. That was the last time they exited at the group stage of a World Cup: there were only 16 teams at that tournament, so while it’s tricky to compare that tournament with this, not reaching the last 16 here would have been a significant blow.
It would have made the gamble they took in appointing a non-Brazilian, Carlo Ancelotti, seem not worthwhile: they traded their traditions… for this?
