Balbuena joins long line of failed penalty subs, but Paraguay still advance
June 30 : As Paraguay's Fabian Balbuena found out the hard way, being substituted on just to take a penalty in a looming shootout is generally a sure sign that you'll miss.
Brazil Sport News
World Cup 2026: Which teams have been eliminated? - ESPN
The biggest World Cup in history featuring 48 teams is shrinking fast as we reach the business end of the group stage.
Paraguay stuns four-time World Cup champions Germany in penalty shootout after controversial call
Thiago Alcântara, Peter Crouch, Kasper Schmeichel and Alex Scott react to Brazil's 2-1 late win over Japan, thanks to Gabriel Martinelli's CLUTCH goal in stoppage time.
Gabriel Martinelli's 96th-minute goal rescues Brazil from Japan upset in World Cup Round of 32
Jonathan Bornstein tells Dan Dakich about the potential impact of the USMNT advancing to the World Cup semifinals.
In Brazil, a World Cup clash pits homeland against home for vast Japanese community
SAO PAULO: Alan Saito decided to wear both his Brazil and Japan jerseys to watch the World Cup showdown on Monday (Jun 29) between the country where his grandparents came from and his own. The Japan jersey came on top, but he had yellow-and-green face paint, too.
Brazil match shows Japan closing gap on top teams, coach Moriyasu says
HOUSTON, June 29 : Japan’s last-gasp World Cup defeat by Brazil in a match where they stifled the five-times champions for long periods showed the national team is closing the gap with traditional soccer powerhouses, Japan Coach Hajime Moriyasu said on Monday.
Martinelli late show as Brazil down Japan 2-1 to reach World Cup last 16
HOUSTON: Brazil survived a World Cup last-32 scare when they fought back to beat Japan 2-1 after Gabriel Martinelli squeezed in a shot at the far post deep in stoppage time on Monday (Jun 29).
Last-gasp Brazil down Japan to reach World Cup 16
LOS ANGELES: Brazil advanced to the last 16 of the World Cup on Monday with a thrilling last-gasp 2-1 victory over Japan as the tournament’s knockout rounds got into full swing. Arsenal striker Gabriel Martinelli was the hero for Brazil in Houston, scoring in the fifth minute of stoppage time to settle an enthralling contest at the NRG Stadium. Japan had threatened to pull off one of the all-time great World Cup upsets after Kaishu Sano fired them into the lead with a superb 29th-minute goal on the counter-attack. Brazil looked stunned by the Japanese opener for the remainder of the half and the Asian giants comfortably protected their lead up to half-time. But Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti rolled the dice at half-time by bringing on an additional striker in Endrick for midfielder Lucas Paqueta and the South Americans immediately looked more threatening. They equalized on 56 minutes, Casemiro nodding in at the far post after a superb curling cross from the left by Gabriel Magalhaes. Japan though appeared to have done enough to force extra time, but paid the price after Ao Tanaka coughed up possession on the edge of the area in injury time. The ball was quickly played to Martinelli, who took a touch before burying the winner. Brazil will face either Ivory Coast or Norway in the last 16.