Paul Scholes on Japan being eliminated from the FIFA World Cup after losing to Brazil:
🗣️ “This is one of those nights that reminds you how ruthless football can be. Japan were seconds away from making history, but against Brazil, switching off for just one moment is enough to end your World Cup.”
“I honestly feel devastated for those players. They ran themselves into the ground, defended with unbelievable courage and played with absolutely no fear. They deserved to leave that pitch with pride, not heartbreak.”
“The scoreline will say Brazil won, but anyone who watched this match knows Japan pushed one of football's greatest nations to its absolute limit. They didn't lose because they were the weaker team—they lost because football at this level is decided by the finest of margins.”
“You can already see the tears on their faces, and that's because this wasn't just another game. This was a dream shared by an entire nation. Those players gave everything they had, and sometimes even that isn't enough.”
“Japan may be out of the World Cup, but they've won the respect of millions around the world. Performances like this are remembered long after the tournament is over.”
“Brazil march on, but they'll know they survived one of the toughest tests of their campaign. Japan leave with broken hearts, yet they leave as heroes in the eyes of football.”
🚨 Xabi Alonso on Japan’s first-half performance against Brazil:
🗣️ “Take the score away for a second and just watch the football. Japan have been outstanding. This isn’t a team hanging on against Brazil—this is a team playing with complete confidence, organisation and belief. They’ve made one of the biggest football nations in the world look uncomfortable.”
“People spent the entire week talking about Brazil’s stars, but football has never been about names alone. Japan have pressed together, defended together and attacked with purpose. Every player understands his role, every movement has meaning, and that’s why Brazil have struggled to impose themselves. This has been one of the smartest tactical performances of the tournament.”
“What impresses me the most is the mentality. Japan haven’t played with fear for a single second. They’ve looked brave in possession, aggressive without the ball and completely committed to their game plan. Sano, Kamada, Doan and the rest have shown incredible personality, while the defensive unit has made Brazil work for every opportunity.”
“This is the beauty of football. Expensive squads don’t win matches by themselves—teams do. Right now Japan have looked hungrier, sharper and more disciplined than Brazil. If Brazil don’t find another level in the second half, this could become one of the biggest World Cup shocks we’ve seen in years.”
{@Sports }
Vamos tirar o chapéu ao Ancelotti.
200 milhões de brasileiros tirariam o Casemiro, ele deixou e marcou.
Ninguém nem lembravam do Gabriel Martinelli, ele chamou e marcou.
Esse velho maldito sabe muito.
Japan leaves this World Cup with its head held high. 🇯🇵 Against Brazil, the difference wasn’t talent or organization, it was squad depth.
In the second half, Japan no longer had the resources to sustain the same attacking pressure. A proud exit that highlights how far this team has come, while also showing the final step still needed to compete with the very best.
Ganbare Nippon 🇯🇵
🥹❤️ SPEED RÉCONFORTE UN JEUNE FAN JAPONAIS EN LARMES APRÈS L’ÉLIMINATION DU JAPON
Touché par son émotion, le streameur a pris le temps de le consoler après la défaite du Japon en Coupe du monde. 🇯🇵⚽
🚨Carlo Ancelloti explaining why Japan where able to keep Vinicius silent
🎙️ "People will say Vinícius had a quiet game, but sometimes you have to give credit to the opponent. Japan defended him with incredible discipline. Every time he received the ball, there were two players ready, and they denied him the space he usually attacks. Brazil also didn't circulate the ball quickly enough to isolate him in one-versus-one situations. Vinícius wasn't poor—Japan simply executed their defensive plan almost perfectly."
Pep Guardiola on Japan's first-half performance against Brazil:
🗣️ “I don't know what Hajime Moriyasu has done with this Japanese team, but what I'm watching is extraordinary. People spent weeks talking about Brazil's stars, yet for forty-five minutes it's Japan who have looked like the real giants on this pitch.”
“Brazil have world-class players in every position. Alisson, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães, Vinícius Júnior... these are names that strike fear across world football. But today, Japan have completely ignored reputations and played with courage, intelligence and absolute belief.”
“Nakamura, Kamada, Sano and Doan have been fearless. Every attack looks dangerous, every press is coordinated, and every player is fighting as if this is the biggest moment of their lives. That mentality is worth more than any transfer fee.”
“What impresses me most is the discipline. Tomiyasu, Taniguchi and Ito have made Brazil's attack look ordinary. When you can silence players like Vinícius Júnior and Matheus Cunha on the biggest stage, you're doing something very special.”
“This is why football is the greatest sport in the world. Expensive squads don't win matches teams do. Right now Japan look hungrier, sharper and mentally stronger than Brazil.”
“If Brazil don't change something immediately, this could become one of the biggest World Cup shocks we've seen in years. Japan aren't just competing anymore... they're making Brazil suffer.”
🚨🎙️Roy keane :You've got to give Hajime Moriyasu a lot of credit. The work he's done with this Japan team has been outstanding. They've built a side with a clear identity, they know exactly how they want to play, and they had the courage to stick to it against one of the best teams in the world.
Japan should be proud. They didn't come here just to make up the numbers—they came to compete. They showed the world their intensity, discipline, and quality on the ball. That's the sign of a proper football team.
I thought Suzuki was excellent today. Tomiyasu was a leader at the back, calm under pressure and always putting his body on the line. Kaishu Sano covered every blade of grass, worked tirelessly, and never stopped fighting. Those three were absolutely outstanding.
In the end, football can be cruel. Sometimes luck just isn't on your side. One moment, one bounce, one bit of quality from the opposition can decide everything. That's exactly what happened against Brazil.
But when I look at this Japan team, I don't think about the result. I think about how much I enjoyed watching them. They played the game the right way, with honesty, commitment, and belief. They earned the respect of football fans around the world, and that's something they should all be proud of.
🚨 Sir Alex Ferguson on Brazil knocking Japan out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a thrilling 2–1 victory:
🗣️ “That is what champions do. They don’t always play perfect football, but when the pressure is at its highest, they find a way to win. Brazil were pushed to their absolute limit tonight, and Japan deserve enormous credit for making one of the greatest football nations fight for every single ball.”
“People will look at the result and simply say Brazil are through, but this match was much bigger than that. Japan showed courage, discipline and belief for almost the entire game. They never hid, they never gave up, and they made Brazil earn every inch of that victory. That’s the kind of performance that earns respect around the football world.”
“The difference in the end was experience. Brazil understood that knockout football is decided by moments, not long spells of possession or beautiful football. When the decisive opportunity arrived, they took it. That’s the mentality of teams who expect to win World Cups.”
“If I’m Brazil, I celebrate the qualification but I also know there is work to do. If they perform like this against even stronger opposition, they’ll have problems. If I’m Japan, I leave this tournament with my head held high because they’ve shown they belong among the best teams in world football. This was a defeat, but it was also a statement.”
{@SkyNews }
🚨Roy keane reacts to Japan fans cleaning the stadium after thier match and says this is what culture is
🗣️ “Japan really showed us what football culture is all about. Yes, they play good football, they’re disciplined, organized, and they never stop working, but what impressed me even more was what happened after the final whistle. Their supporters stayed behind to clean the stadium, even after watching their team lose. That tells you everything about the values they carry.
🗣️It’s easy to show class when you’re winning, but showing respect, humility, and responsibility after a defeat is something special. That’s a culture that deserves admiration. Credit to the players for their performance, but even bigger credit to the fans. They represented their country with dignity and reminded the football world that respect for the game goes far beyond the result.” #BRAJPN