Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Bangladeshi fans for their unwavering support, saying Brazilian footballers deeply appreciate the love they receive from Bangladesh and that "we Brazilians love you."
"Yes, I have seen the videos. I want to say thank you to all the people of Bangladesh for supporting us. We Brazilians love you. Thank you. God bless you," Alisson said.
Defensive midfielder Casemiro also thanked football fans in Bangladesh for their passionate support after Brazil's dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Japan in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32.
"Thank you so much for the support, Bangladesh," he said.
Brazil booked their place in the last 16 after coming from behind to defeat Japan in Houston on Monday, 29 June.
Following the match, both players acknowledged the unwavering support they receive from Bangladeshi fans, who stayed up late into the night to cheer for the five-time world champions.
Speaking to journalists after the match, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker smiled when told they were from Bangladesh and responded with a thumbs-up.
Brazil endured a tense encounter after Japan took the lead in the 29th minute through Kaishu Sano. Casemiro restored parity in the 54th minute before Gabriel Martinelli struck a dramatic winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time to complete the comeback and seal Brazil's place in the Round of 16.
Brazil's popularity in Bangladesh has long been a distinctive feature of the country's football culture, with thousands of supporters regularly gathering to watch the Seleção during major international tournaments. The heartfelt messages from Alisson and Casemiro were warmly received by Bangladeshi fans following Brazil's hard-fought victory.
Bd-pratidin English/TR
