On October 14th, Japan staged a stunning 3-2 comeback win over Brazil at home, securing their first victory against the South American giants in 14 all-time meetings. After the match, Japan’s head coach Hajime Moriyasu acknowledged his team’s resilience in adversity while remaining grounded—stating that winning the World Cup is extremely difficult and that this defeat does not reflect Brazil’s true capabilities.
Trailing 2-0 in the first half, Japan turned the tide in the second half with goals from Takumi Minamino, Keito Nakamura, and Kisho Yano, delivering a thrilling comeback victory. Moriyasu attributed the win to the team’s tenacity and fan support: "This home win against Brazil and the growth our team has shown are the results of everyone’s refusal to give up in adversity and the efforts we’ve accumulated in daily training. The home fans turned the stadium—usually filled with yellow (Brazil’s color)—into a sea of blue. Together with the supporters watching on TV who sent their faith, they pushed the players to fight until the very end."
When talking about the crucial tactical adjustments at halftime, he revealed the core strategy: "We failed to effectively press Brazil’s ball carriers earlier, so at halftime, we emphasized increasing the intensity of our pressing and accelerating the overall rhythm of attack and defense."
Regarding Japan’s World Cup journey, Moriyasu did not grow overly optimistic due to this win: "We will continue to improve our strength in a down-to-earth manner. Winning the World Cup is incredibly hard, and Brazil will definitely show stronger competitiveness in the official tournament. We must be fully prepared and keep growing step by step toward our goal."
