Trailing 1-0 at half-time, Brazil turned the game around in the second half before Martinelli netted the stoppage-time winner to send the five-time champions into the Round of 16.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAncelotti is a surreal guy; at half-time, he gave us confidence. He told us that we would score and come back. It didn\u2019t matter when the goal would be scored. We sensed his calmness. It relaxed us,\u201d Martinelli told FIFA. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Meanwhile, Ancelotti, taking charge of his first FIFA World Cup knockout match with Brazil, urged his players to remain patient despite Japan\u2019s disciplined defensive display.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t lose patience. Things were already going well in the first half. In the second half, we put more crosses into the box. Japan aren\u2019t an easy opponent; they\u2019re well-organised and very intense,\u201d Ancelotti said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The veteran coach also stressed the importance of mentality after Brazil overturned the deficit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYou make mistakes in football. It\u2019s impossible not to make mistakes because no one\u2019s perfect. But we know how to keep going. That\u2019s what the team did very well in the second half. Nobody thought we\u2019d fail to score. The mental side of things is important,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brazil\u2019s equaliser came through Casemiro before Martinelli struck the winner deep into stoppage time, completing Brazil\u2019s first comeback victory in a World Cup knockout match since the 2002 quarterfinal run.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Casemiro also highlighted Ancelotti\u2019s influence, revealing that the coach repeatedly urged the players to stay composed while continuing to press high up the pitch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brazil\u2019s equaliser came through Casemiro before Martinelli struck the winner deep into stoppage time, completing Brazil\u2019s first comeback victory in a World Cup knockout match since the 2002 quarterfinal run.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After the win against Japan, Brazil will next face the winner of the Norway vs Ivory Coast match in the round of 16.<\/p>\r\n\r\n