Key events
Time for me to go and find a piece of cheese and a glass of wine. I will raise that glass to Casemiro, who pretty much provided a goal for either side – the first with his slow old legs, the second with his wise old head.
Thanks for your company and some high-class correspondence, led by Richard Hirst's jibe at the traffic cone, which turned into a meme before our eyes. Do join Rob Smyth for the late game, Germany v Paraguay, kicking off in an hour's time. And do read Jonathan Wilson's match report frm Houston, which gets off to a lovely measured start, much like an Ancelotti masterclass.
If you emailed in vain, I can only apologise – the inbox has been inundated. Here's one from about 45 minutes ago that hasn't been overtaken by events. “Hello from the Brooklyn fan park,†says Matt Jeary. “I am here with my 17-year-old son Isaac in our England shirts.†Proper parenting.
“The crowd are mainly Brazilian, a smattering of Japan supporters ( we are throwing our support behind them), and then a few German, Colombian and Mexican fans and a lonely-looking Scot.
“It's a very nice fan park, right under Brooklyn Bridge and spitting distance from the ITV studio. The huge drawback is the free tickets are released 24 hours in advance, so lots of disappointed supporters being turned away.†The lonely-looking Scot is a lovely touch.
Out on the pitch, Hajime Moriyasu is giving a speech to his squad. Next time there's a vacancy at one of the big European clubs, I hope his name is mentioned.
On ITV, they've updated the World Cup bracket. Brazil, who are top of the bottom half, will now play Norway or Cote d'Ivoire. That should be a good game too.
This one was so good that, at the end, Roy Keane said “What a match!†A collector's item.
“The great thing about old familiar cones,†says Justin Kavanagh, “is that when you have the ball, you know exactly where they're going to be standing. All you have to do is find them with the cross!â€
“Pleased with how Japan played,†says Joseph Trivers. “They did well, but injuries are having an effect on all teams. What might have been with a healthy Endo, Minamino, Mitoma, Kubo…
“Congratulations,†he adds, “to Brazil.†Sportsmanship is not dead.
“This has been eerily reminiscent of Japan's games against Belgium in
2018 and Croatia in 2022,†says Kári Tulinius. “Japan started really well, but ran out of steam. I don't think Brazil were necessarily the better team, but as the match wore on, the Japanese lost all ability to create dangerous chances. I don't think Tanaka had a meaningful touch after he came on as a substitute. Thank you for minute-by-minuting a fascinating match.â€
I'm not sure I did it justice! But thanks.
Both the Brazilian assists were top-class too. A cross from a centre-back (Big Gabi), and a crisp little ball from a midfielder (Guimaraes).
It was an intriguing tussle between two fine managers. Hajime Moriyasu won the first half with his superb organisation, helped by a great strike from the controversial Kaishu Sano. Carlo Ancelotti won the second half, and the game, with two decisions about subs.
The first decision was not to haul Casemiro off at half-time. One old boy rewarded the other with a typically excellent header. The second was to send on Martinelli, not on the left wing, but in left midfield. He popped up in the box in the 96th minute with a cool, calm winner.
FULL TIME! Brazil 2-1 Japan
After 100 minutes, the whistle blows at last. Brazil have come from behind to beat Japan, and it's been an Ancelotti masterclass.
90+9 min The assist was from Guimaraes, the best thing he did in a patchy performance. He's gone off now.
90+7 min Gabriel Martinelli was between the lines at inside-left. He received a neat pass, took a neat touch and played a neat pass onto the inside of the far post. Simple!
GOOOALLLL! Brazil 2-1 Japan (Martinelli 90+6)
It's Little Gabi! With a huge moment.
90+3 min This is the third of six added minutes, which may well stretch to eight. Endrick wins a corner and Fabinho's first act is to send a looping header over the bar.
90+1 min Casemiro gets up but only to walk off, clutching his groin. I do hope that's not the end of his tournament.
89 min Casemiro is sitting on the ground, getting some attention from the physio. It looks as if Fabinho may come on to replace him.
88 min Rayan wins another free kick from J Suzuki, who is flirting with a red card here. His blushes are spared by Z Suzuki, who comes out to meet the free kick with a firm punch. Vini Jr has a shot, deflected wide. The shot count is now 16-5.
87 min In a shock development, Japan head upfield. They even surprise themselves but fail to trouble Alisson.
85 min The free kick is well struck, by Rayan I think, and headed over by a defender. The corner leads to a half-chance for Guimaraes, another for his collection. He goes for an ambitious chip with the outside of his right foot, which goes wide.
84 min Japan go ahead in the other contest, for most yellow cards. They're now 3-2 up as Rayan bursts down the right and J Suzuki brings him down.
82 min Yet more possession for Brazil, but it's all too slow.
“As we say at Arsenal,†advises Peter Mumola, “just use Big Gabi (Magalhaes) and Little Gabi (Martinelli).â€
80 min The official attendance is 68,000 – and now, as throughout, it sounds like more than that.
78 min Two more subs for Japan: off go Junya Ito and Kamada (of Palace), on come Machino and Tanaka (of Leeds).
75 min Brazil are dominating the ball again, which means both sides are playing to their strengths. Martinelli tries a shot, but it loops wide.
73 min Another fine cross from Gabriel (Magalhaes, not Martinelli) leads to a Brazil corner, but nothing comes of it.
72 min Martinelli's first contribution is a foul. He seems to be playing in left midfield, with Endrick up front.
Hydration break! Brazil 1-1 Japan
We can probably all agree on one thing: the third quarter of the game was won by Brazil. In fact, by Carlo Ancelotti.
65 min Subs for Japan, too, as Moriyasu replaces both his wing-backs, Doan and Nakamura. They've been extra full-backs a lot of the time and they may well be knackered. On come Sugawara and Junnosuke Suzuki.
The Suzukis are a bit like the Bellinis of Venice, as described in Brideshead Revisited. “Which of the Bellinis did you like best?†Laurence Olivier asked Jeremy Irons in the Channel 4 version.
“I didn't know there were two.â€
Olivier, triumphantly: “There are three!â€
65 min Gabriel Martinelli seems to be coming on – not for Vini Jr, surely? No, for Cunha, so maybe Vini will move into the middle.
63 min Now it's Rayan who makes his presence felt in the inside-right channel. But the next attempt on goal comes at the other end as Ueda drills a shot in from the left, saved by Alisson.
61 min Half an hour to go, and at this rate we may get another half-hour after that. The goal was Casemiro's tenth for Brazil, in his 90th appearance. And it was yet another feather in Ancelotti's cap: so many people would have taken Casemiro off.
59 min Casemiro was lurking on the six-yard line, played onside – just – by the nearest defender. For the first time, Japan's rearguard put a foot wrong.
58 min Brazil hit the post! Also, save!! It's Vini Jr, dancing through the area, and flicking with the outside of his right foot. And it's Suzuki, doing just enough to keep it out.
57 min “Yes!†says Zafar Sobhan. “The traffic cone!â€
