Alisson is into the last 16 of the World Cup with Brazil after Japan came from two goals down to win courtesy of goals from Casemiro and Gabriel Martinelli
22:23, 29 Jun 2026
Alisson celebrates Brazil's progression to the last 16
Alisson celebrates Brazil's progression to the last 16(Image: AFP or licensors)
Alisson survived a World Cup scare with Brazil as the Selecao came from behind to defeat Japan in the last 32.
Japan led at half-time through Kaishu Sano's long-distance strike, and Brazil's defense and midfield looked very gettable in the first half.
However, the underdogs could not add to their lead, and were made to pay when Brazil upped its game after the break and Casemiro equalized just shy of the hour mark. Then, with the game seemingly heading for extra-time, Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli popped up with the winning goal in injury time to send the Brazil fans in attendance into pandemonium.
"We were fighting all through the game, we wanted to keep ball possession," game-winner Martinelle said. "At some point we know we would get close to goal.
"Japan close the defence really nice but we did a good job, really controlled the match and finally generated the winning opportunity."
"It represents so much. My whole family watching, my friend at home, our people celebrating. I'm so elated and really proud and it gives us confidence to move forward.
"We have to keep our feet firmly on the ground and good things can happen."
Explaining what the goal and the win meant to him, Martinelli added: "It represents so much.
"My whole family watching, my friend at home, our people celebrating. I'm so elated and really proud and it gives us confidence to move forward. We have to keep our feet firmly on the ground and good things can happen."
Gabriel Martinelli scores Brazil's winning goal against Japan
Gabriel Martinelli scores Brazil's winning goal against Japan(Image: ©Icon Sportswire All Rights Reserved)
Casemiro, the scorer of Brazil's equalizer, added: "I think it was about our calm and our patience and pressuring and pressuring a team that was playing a very low block.
"We believed the time would come, our confidence and our pressure were key for this match.
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"I feel many emotions right now. When you score a goal you ask God to light you at that moment. It's really a lot of emotions at the same time.
"You have to really value the entire group. Martinelli with the winning goal. That's the path to win the World Cup, you have to value the group."
Brazil will now face the winner of Ivory Coast versus Norway in the last 16, and a possible quarter-final with England is on the horizon, provided the Three Lions can get past Congo and then either Mexico or Ecuador in the last 16.