"Japan's Kubo was in tears": Brazil's defeat leaves Japan in shock... "We had our strongest lineup ever, but the wall of the world was too high"

*This content was translated by AI.

Japan, defeated by Brazil, was enveloped in a somber atmosphere.

Japan's "Sports Hochi" reported on the 30th (Korea time) that "Japan suffered a nightmare-winning goal against Brazil and was eliminated in the Round of 32."

It continued, "Despite building the strongest lineup in history, Japan failed to secure a tournament victory again. The wall to reach the world summit remains high," expressing regret.

It then conveyed the desolate atmosphere at the venue. The media stated, "Immediately after the match, the players fell into a state of helplessness," and added, "Daigo Nishioka, who provided the opportunity for the goal, and Kubo, who was absent due to injury, were in tears."

On the morning of the 30th (Korea time), Japan took an early lead through a goal by Kai Shiro Sano in the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup Round of 32 match against Brazil held at the Houston Stadium in Texas, USA. However, they conceded consecutive goals to Casemiro and Gabriel Martinelli in the second half, resulting in a 1-2 comeback defeat.

The media reported, "Japan fought valiantly against the football kingdom, but fell just short." It further noted regarding Brazilian football, "Brazil is like a mentor to the Japanese football community. Coaches and players of Brazilian origin, such as Zico, Leonardo, and Dunga, have imparted world-class skills and a professional mindset to Japan since the inception of the J-League. Hajime Moriyasu, the head coach, even stated, 'Brazilian coaches and players laid the foundation for Japanese football.'"

The media reviewed Japan's national team's recent journey. "After losing to Croatia in the Round of 16 at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Coach Moriyasu vowed to reach the world summit. He has built a deep player pool, allowing him to lead the team for two consecutive tournaments for the first time in Japanese football history," it reported.

It continued, "The national team boosted its strength by defeating strong teams like Brazil and England in friendly matches. However, this tournament was marked by a series of misfortunes," expressing regret.

It analyzed that injuries to key players occurring consecutively before the tournament were a major setback. The media stated, "Takumi Minamino and Kaoru Mitoma were dropped from the 26th-man squad due to injuries. Just three days before the first group stage match against the Netherlands, captain Wataru Endo also withdrew due to an injury on the top of his foot. Under the leadership of new captain Ko Itakura, a 'Night in Dallas' meeting was held to strengthen unity, but in the first match, midfielder Takefusa Kubo also injured his left knee. The national team had to fight against numerous difficulties," it reported.

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*This content was translated by AI.