Japan will not be an easy opponent when they face Brazil in their World Cup Round of 32 clash in Houston on Monday, coach Hajime Moriyasu stated on Thursday after his side finished runners-up in Group F.
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Moriyasu pointed to a 3-2 comeback win over the five-time champions in Tokyo last October as evidence that Japan arrive at this fixture with genuine belief. That result marked their first-ever victory against Brazil, and the coach made clear it shapes the mindset his squad carries into Monday’s match.
“Last time we proved to Brazil that we aren’t a pushover,” Moriyasu said. “That is great progress for us. The Brazilian team is a top team in the world, and we greatly respect them. In the match, we don’t know what is going to happen. We will have a chance to win as well.”
Japan secured their place in the knockout stage after drawing 1-1 with Sweden on Thursday in Dallas. Daizen Maeda opened the scoring before Japan conceded minutes later to level the contest. The point was enough to claim second place in Group F behind the Netherlands.
Moriyasu said he was disappointed to give up the goal but, once the scores were level, chose to introduce defensive players to protect the result and secure the group’s second spot. “We conceded a goal, and in the world of football, that is how it goes,” he said.
Beyond the immediate knockout tie, the coach framed Japan’s advancement as meaningful for the wider region. His side, he argued, carry the sporting ambition of Asian football into the latter rounds of the tournament, and reaching the knockouts reflects the continued development of the game in Japan.
“That is what we wanted to do from the beginning of the competition, and this is proof in the growth of Japanese football,” Moriyasu said.
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