There are matches that go beyond the boundaries of football tactics to enter directly into the territory of nostalgia and myth. The pairing of the round of 32 of the World Cup will in fact give fans an iconic challenge for those who grew up with cartoons: Brazil vs Japan. In fact, as soon as the scoreboard confirmed the crossing, the minds of millions of fans around the world flew to forty years ago, reconnecting to the legendary adventures of Holly and Benjithe Japanese cartoon (known at home as Captain Tsubasa) who shaped the football imagination of entire generations.
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The animated prophecy and the profound connection between the two worlds
The script imagined by the cartoonist Yoichi Takahashi thus found a sensational support in the reality of the world championship tournament. In the fiction of the anime, the path of the champion Holly (Tsubasa Ozora) reached its peak in the final of the Under 20 World Cup, where the Asian national team managed to beat the green and gold masters with a pyrotechnic 3-2.
That story was based on solid cultural foundations: Brazil has always been the point of reference for Japanese football, symbolized in the series by the figure of mentor Roberto Sedinho (inspired by the champion Tostao) and by Holly’s subsequent transfer to San Paolo before landing in Europe. While rival Mark Lenders was trying his luck in Italy with Piedmont and Reggiana, real Japan assimilated Brazilian philosophy through the concept of kaizen (continuous improvement). Tonight, that thesis faces its most important test.
The irony of the web and the catchphrase of the infinite field
A coincidence like this certainly couldn’t spare social networks, besieged by an avalanche of viral memes and ironic comments signed by fans of both factions. The community went wild recalling the proverbial exaggerations of the TV series. Many users joked about the time dilation of the actions, writing that the game risks lasting 36 hours due to the players’ internal thoughts just like what happened in the cartoons.
Others joked about the geometric slope of the pitch, welcoming the match with jokes about finally having to believe in the existence of a kilometre-long football pitch. Under the layer of irony, however, lies the romantic dream of seeing the Japanese repeat the feat of Holly and Benji and bring home a historic victory against a national team that is a symbol of this sport.
Where to watch Brazil-Japan and what time the match will be
It doesn’t take long to know if the ending of this prophecy will also come true. The starting whistle of the match is in fact set for today evening, Monday 29 June, at 7.00 pm Italian time (corresponding to 12.00 pm local time in Texas). The theater of the event will be the very modern NRG Stadium in Houston, where the South American battleship led by coach Carlo Ancelotti will start with the underdogs and the obligation to win, against a Japan led by Hajime Moriyasu who will instead play without pressure.
As regards media coverage for Italy, the match will be broadcast live and free-to-air on Rai 1, with the possibility of enjoying free streaming via the RaiPlay application under the technical commentary of Stefano Bizzotto and Andrea Stramaccioni. For subscribers to the DAZN platform, the live streaming will be visible on all compatible devices, supported by the voices of Pierluigi Pardo and Massimo Ambrosini.
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