🎙️ Zlatan Ibrahimović on Japan’s late defeat to Brazil:
“It was a very close game. At times, Japan looked like the better team and even had the advantage.
Unfortunately, Casemiro gave Brazil the edge, and in the dying moments, Brazil found the goal that decided the match.
Credit to Brazil—they showed their quality when it mattered most.
But it’s also sad to see Japan’s World Cup journey come to an end. They played fearless football, stayed true to their identity, and were one of the most entertaining teams in the tournament.
I genuinely enjoyed watching every one of their matches at the 2026 World Cup.
Farewell, Japan. You earned the respect of football fans around the world.” 🇯🇵👏
Zlatan Ibrahimović on Japan's dominant 4-0 victory over Tunisia at the World Cup:
🗣️ “People need to stop calling Japan a surprise package. At some point, when you keep producing performances like this, you're no longer a surprise you're a serious contender.”
“A 4-0 win at the World Cup is not normal. You don't destroy teams by accident. You do it because you have quality, organization, confidence, and players who know exactly what they're doing.”
“What impresses me most is the way they play. There is no fear, no hesitation, no respect for reputations. They attack with intensity, defend as a unit, and make life miserable for every opponent.”
“Before the tournament started, everyone was talking about the traditional favourites. But match after match, Japan are quietly forcing their way into that conversation.”
“If I'm one of the big nations watching this performance, I'm worried. Very worried. Because Japan look like a team that is improving with every game they play.”
“The scary thing is that they don't look satisfied. Even at 3-0, even at 4-0, they keep pressing, keep running, and keep searching for more. That's the mentality of a team that believes it can achieve something special.”
“You can have all the star players in the world, but if you come up against a team playing with this level of discipline and confidence, you're going to suffer.”
“Right now, Japan are slowly becoming one of the favourites to win this World Cup. Some people won't like hearing that, but football doesn't care about reputations it cares about performances.”
“And trust me, any team that gets drawn against Japan in the next round won't be celebrating. They'll be wondering how they're supposed to stop them.”