Brazil Faces Japan: Upset Alert in Round of 32

Brazil is set to face Japan in the round of 32, aiming to reverse the outcome of a friendly last October where they lost 3-2 after leading at halftime. The Brazilian squad, including forward Rayan, acknowledges Japan as a strong opponent, despite some players not being intimately familiar with their lineup.

The Selecao will be wary of Japan, who finished second in their group. Despite not having Brazil's historical pedigree, Japan has reached the knockout stage in three consecutive World Cups, though they have never progressed past the round of 16. Coach Hajime Moriyasu expressed his belief in his team's potential to win and advance.

Brazil won their group after an initial draw, with Vinicius Junior and Matheus Cunha leading the scoring. The team has compensated for the absence of Neymar, who recently returned from a calf injury sustained in May and played in the final group stage match. Neymar has a history of scoring against Japan.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti hopes his team is on track for a record sixth World Cup title. He noted areas for improvement, such as pace on the ball, but expressed satisfaction with the team's development and emphasized the need for grit in the knockout stage.