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FIFA live: 96th minute winner saves five-time World Cup winners
SEN • June 30th, 2026 8:24 am
- Brazil 2-1 Japan
- Germany 0-0 Paraguay
- Netherlands v Morocco 11am
World Cup daily news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as the FIFA World Cup 2026™ finally gets under way (All times AEST).
BRAZIL'S WIN AT THE DEATH
In the history of the World Cup, Brazil has never failed to reach the last 16 - and they cut it close this morning with Gabriel Martinelli's winner coming six minutes into injury time.
The result means the internet's viral fan group are heading home and Australia is the last remaining Asian country in the World Cup - not a sentence I thought I would write a few weeks back.
Brazil - Japan was always going to see a big nation head home far earlier than hoped for.
Kaishu Sano gave Japan the lead just before the half hour mark, before Casemiro levelled things out early in the second term.
"I can’t find the words to describe the joy in my heart," Martinelli said. "Seeing all those fans on their feet, my parents, my friends... I can't explain it. After hitting the woodwork, I knew I'd get another chance.
"I honestly don't have the words. I'm just happy I was able to help the team, whether I'm playing on the left or through the middle. The most important thing is helping the team."
Carlo Ancelotti praised his side's patience: "We didn't lose our patience, we had a lot of resources on the pitch and on the bench. Japan isn't an easy opponent, it's very organized and intense.
"I was saving Neymar for the extra time. He was going to enter the pitch on minute 105 if we hadn't scored the second goal. I didn't want to change the structure because the team was playing well."
The South American giants will meet the winner of Norway v Ivory Coast in the next round.
