Marquinhos wary of Japan threat as 'new tournament begins' for Brazil

[p]At the press conference on the eve of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/brazil-I9l9aqLq/japan-ULXPdOUj/?mid=f7ENGzPc"]Brazil vs Japan[/a], defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/marquinhos/UFfev8HP/"]Marquinhos[/a] appeared. When asked how much [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]Brazil[/a] has changed since the defeat against Japan in the October friendly, he replied: [b]"I think it was a learning experience for all of us. Everything we've gone through in recent years, up to this World Cup, has served as a lesson and a test for us[/b]."[/p][p][b]"The coach was able to understand what hadn't worked and, as for me, watching a Brazil match from the outside is always very tough, because you want to be on the pitch helping your teammates."[/b][/p][p]He continued: "That match, however, taught us a lot. Since then, we've grown a lot as a team, and we've shown it in the last matches of this World Cup. Today the situation is completely different: we're in the round of 32, and a new competition begins."[/p][video alt="Marquinhos' words" credit-line="Fabio Russomando" guid="ac84002d-76d9-4377-8648-6318abba9882" id="5e42d9bb-9960-4742-8433-7356e6727f24" /][p]On the opponents: "We've analysed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ULXPdOUj/"]Japan[/a] in recent days, and we know they're a team of great quality[b]. We've prepared a strategy to try to limit their strengths and make the most of our own qualities[/b]."[/p][p]Present and future: "The group stage is now behind us. [b]Securing qualification and finishing first was our main goal, but from tomorrow a new tournament begins[/b]. In the knockout matches, the details will make the difference and we want to give our best on the pitch to play a great game."[/p]