Football column

And in this strange, inanimate and fabulous world where Brazil and Japan merge into the ether... 

I rooting for you! You have failed me cruelly! All your pain is just my pain. But so much pain... So much... So much...

Dedicated to the following rules, well-played but predictable Japanese...

It is you

The match of the 1/16 finals of the 2026 World Cup in Houston promised to be a sensation. And the Japanese got closer to it. The game started very encouragingly, the Japanese pulled out their flag much faster than the Brazilians. In the 29th minute, Kaishu Sano, like a ninja, silently appeared in the center of the field, intercepted the ball and delivered a powerful and accurate shot at goal — 1-0. But then Casemiro-Quasimodo also scored ... a goal ... auch...

In the second time, the Brazilians did not forgive the obvious! They've found out the squints! If you can't score a goal after 5-6 Japanese players at their goal, you need to score from the canopies...  Although the Japanese picked up more yellow cards for thwarted attacks than for all the matches in the group, it did not save them. The second half was a time of "relentless attacks" by the Brazilians. The game was going to extra time, but in the 90+5th minute there was a tragedy for all Japanese fans. Martinelli scored a 2-1 victory after Bruno Guimaraes' pass.

Ninja!

While there was an absolutely equal fight between the Japanese and the Brazilians, I was doing a match tournament (yes, live). Carefully monitoring the replacements. The words of a commentator who supports the Brazilians (traitor! you should be rooting for everyone!), they cut my sensitive ears. In this strange world, the commentator also pronounced the names as if he were reading my own tournament. A coincidence? I don't think so. 

Why do they always lose on my shift? Zion Suzuki was standing at the gates of Japan (just like the brand of the car). But even he couldn't stop the Brazilian express. Andrew beat, Vinicius Junior beat — and then the question is: why didn't Junior score? But because Zion Suzuki turned his shot into the bar! Did you hear it, Junior?

Are they Japanese or Brazilians?..

Well, what can I say? I was rooting for Japan...

This face expresses everything. I'll leave you alone with him...

That's it! Bye! See you in the morning! May you dream of midges! (either mormysh or Modric)