Given the almost 70-30 possession advantage that Brazil enjoyed throughout the game, it’s almost hard to believe that Japan led 1-0. True, they ultimately succumbed to Brazil’s superior talent in a one-sided 4-1 affair, but they did as well as could be expected.
Ronaldo scored twice to equal the all-time World Cup scoring lead of 14, but he remains (to my eyes at least) overly heavy and several steps slow of peak form. That these factors did not stop him against Japan isn’t saying much.
In other action, Croatia tied Australia 2-2, putting Australia into the second round.