About to start! Line-ups: Hugo Souza; Paulo Henrique, Fabircio Bruno, Beraldo, Carlos Augusto; Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães, Paquetá; Luiz Henrique, Vini Jr., Martinelli Zion Suzuki; Taniguchi, Watanabe, Junnosuke Suzuki; Kamada, Nakamura, Minamino, Sano; Kubo, Ueda, Doan.
Paulo Henrique scores 1x0 Japan with very good pressure got the chances early. But Brazil, despite having 8 changes, have been solid in buildup save a few early giveaways (by Casemiro).
Another solid buildup results in a Martinelli goal. Paquetá with the assist. Bruno had the first assist. 2x0
On the last occasion Brazil faced Korea and Japan in the same week, Brazil won both matches with a combined 6-1. Japan made it far more difficult for Brazil as ours was a 1-0 victory in Tokyo. The last time Brazil played Japan before the June 2022 visit to Asia for those friendlies was back in November 2017, during Tite's first stint. Brazil beat Japan 3-1 at Lille, France; that match was itself preceded by a friendly in Goiânia one year prior, also a two-goal differential win for Brazil - but this was the U-23 team that won Olympic gold in Rio that same year. Between the 4-1 victory over Zico's Japan in the 2006 World Cup and a friendly in Singapore in 2014, Brazil played Japan four times with four wins and a combined 15-1 scorecard in our favor. Japan has certainly improved over more recent years; their victories over Spain and Germany at the last World Cup were historic, and they fell to Croatia only on PKs (Japan, like Brazil, scored first vs. the eastern Europeans). However, they've had a modest year - they lost to Team USA in September (a loss I wouldn't have expected) and they drew Saudi Arabia in WCQ. They drew Paraguay today with a goal in stoppage time. And with this 0-2 halftime disadvantage, Japan may not repeat today its triumphs over former World Cup champions from 2022.
Richarlison, Caio Henrique and Estêvão coming in soon. Paquetá, Luiz Henrique and Carlos Augusto out.
Some pressure by Brazil in the end but poor finishing and crossing. Japan wins 3x2 Plenty of conclusions to take from this game, good and bad.
Just a friendly and the tests are more valuable than the result ... but this is another first. First ever loss to Japan. Didn't watch the match but saw that Fabricio Bruno had a nightmare match.
I'm annoyed that a game we were winning 2-0 at halftime ended like this. Some more attention from the players and we wouldn't have lost. On the other hand, it is much better to face a surprising and humbling result like this now when it's a mere FIFA date than during next year's mata-mata. As well, it's a reminder that teams out there will come at us to draw and to win, even, if they can. If Japan - a solid team who has defeated Germany and Japan in World Cup play succeeded - England, France, Spain and such will do the same if not more. Ancelotti made eight line-up changes from the team that defeated South Korea. The upside is that he has now seen things about certain players which he can take to better select the World Cup roster.
Ancelotti was visibly displeased in the post-match press conference. Not exactly a surprise, but it is a little reassuring.
It was somehow worse than the one Kim Min-Jae had and Estêvão scored on against Korea. Not by much, but it was.
So, to try to start my summary: The good is the overall offensive entrosamento and passing on offense. Six of our 7 goals in this break came from great passing moves and good (sometimes great) assists. The bad is how easily the defense falls apart without the right pieces, and I include the midfield in it. Most of the time I would not be willing to throw a player out after one match, but I do think that, with so little time left, Ancelotti has to make the decision to drop Hugo Souza. Beraldo and Fabricio Bruno as well, but those guys wouldn't make it unless there were 2 or three injuries anyways. Also, still need to find midfield backups. Joelinton in for Bruno Guimarães isn't where we lost the match, but it hurt our chances of coming back.
Seldom have I seen such a blooper. Even a zagueiro from the Campeonato Brasileiro C wouldn't have made such an error in that situation.
I liked Ancelotti's tone in the press conference, but I'm watching TNT coverage and felt Fabricio Bruno was way too defensive in his answers in the "zona mista".
The Central Defender pool for Brazil is (or should be): Militao, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Alexsandro (Lille), Bremer (if he is healthy). You can add one or two more (I would not) but that's it.