There’s no Silver Glove awaiting the World Cup’s almost-greatest goalkeeper. The memory of a save in a Round of 32 loss will last about as long as the drinks needed to dull the pain of that loss. And that’s a shame, because even in a losing effort, the save Japan’s Zion Suzuki made Tuesday against Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior deserves to live on in World Cup history.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, to a Ghanaian American father and a Japanese mother, Suzuki could have played for any of the three nations. He chose Japan, where he was raised, and learned the game well enough to earn a job with Parma of the Italian Serie A league. He’s dealt with racial abuse on top of the usual challenges of claiming a spot on a national team, and in this World Cup, established himself as one of the premier keepers in the field. Japan finished its Group F run with one win and two draws, enough to claim second place … and a date with Brazil.
Advertisement
Japan, which had never advanced past the Round of 16, had held mighty Brazil, the five-time World Cup champions, scoreless for more than a full half. But holding back Brazil is like holding back the tide, and early in the second half, Casemiro eluded Suzuki to equalize the match.
Just two minutes later, Viní Jr., who scored in all three of Brazil’s group stage matches, worked himself free and fired at the right post. It appeared to be vintage Viní — cobra-quick, laser-targeted, the kind of goal that breaks a team’s heart and spirit all at once.
Only … Suzuki was there.
His outstretched thumb just barely grazed the ball. As he hit the ground, he rolled over, his eyes wide as he watched the ball carom off the post. That ball should have gone in. That ball was destined to go in.
Advertisement
But thanks to Suzuki, that ball didn’t go in. Thanks to Suzuki, Japan managed to stay in the match all the way through the end of regulation and deep into stoppage time. Thanks to Suzuki, Japan had hope.
Alas, it couldn’t last. In the 95th minute, a grim repeat with a very different outcome. Brazil’s Gabriel Martinelli found himself alone with the ball on the left side of the goal and fired a shot at almost exactly the same point, from almost exactly the same angle, as Viní. This time, the ball shot past Suzuki’s fingertips. This time, the do-anything, do-everything goalie could only watch as the ball pinged off the goalpost and into the net, taking the last of Japan’s hopes with it.
Maybe it’s more cruel for Japan to see their World Cup end this way, in the final seconds of the match. Maybe it would have been better for the nation’s blood pressure if that Viní shot had gone in and spared everyone the agony of hope.
Advertisement
But those kinds of little miracles are the World Cup’s foundation. Days from now, when the pain ebbs a bit, Suzuki will be able to look back on the moment he stymied one of the world’s greatest players. Years from now, Japanese kids might be imitating Suzuki’s reach-and-roll save. And someday, the clock won’t run out on a Japanese team the way it did on Monday.
Glory and heartbreak, just a fingertip apart.
