For an hour Japan were writing history. Kaishu Sano stole a pass, drove at the heart of the Brazilian defense and rifled in his first international goal to put the five time champions behind, and a disciplined, fearless Japan side looked every bit like the team that came to change its story. Brazil, missing fluency and full of nerves, looked nothing like favorites.

Casemiro hauled them level in the fifty sixth with a thumping header at the back post, and from there it became a siege with a clock ticking against the wrong team. Japan defended, countered, and held their nerve while Brazil threw bodies forward and prayed. It stayed level deep into stoppage time, and a famous draw, maybe more, was within touching distance.

Then the ninety sixth minute arrived and Gabriel Martinelli arrived with it, finishing to win it 2-1 and send Brazil into the Round of 16. The scoreline says progress. The performance says a champion that got rescued by the very last kick against a Japan side missing Kubo and Mitoma. Survive and advance, but only just.