Japan will not 'be pushovers' in Round of 32 clash against Brazil

[p]Moriyasu added that ‌a 3-2 comeback win over the Brazilians in Tokyo ‌last October to notch their first-ever victory against the ‌five-time champions showed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ULXPdOUj/"]Japan[/a] will go into the match on Monday looking to do more than put up ‌a good fight.[/p][p][b]"Last time we proved to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]⁠Brazil[/a] that we ‌aren’t a pushover,"[/b] Moriyasu said.[b] "That is great progress for us. ​The Brazilian team is a top team in the world, and we greatly respect them.[/b][/p][p][b]"In ​the match, we don’t know what is going to happen. We will have a chance to ⁠win as well."[/b][/p][p]Japan ​booked their date with Brazil after drawing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/japan-ULXPdOUj/sweden-OQyqbHWB/?mid=Sl2xgtXi"]1-1[/a] with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sweden/OQyqbHWB/"]Sweden[/a] on Thursday in Dallas as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maeda-daizen/6kfQTp18/"]Daizen Maeda[/a] opened the scoring before Moriyasu's side conceded minutes later.[/p][p]The ‌result earned Japan second place in the group behind the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]Netherlands[/a].[/p][embed guid="34d1c0f0-8362-4b02-8ccf-c97451024e45" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/2070317365045101047?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Moriyasu said he was disappointed to concede, but once the game was level, he elected to bring on defensive players to preserve the point and notch second place in the group.[/p][p][b]"We conceded a goal, and in the world of football, that is how it goes,"[/b] he said.[/p][p]Japan's result ‌is also good for Asian football, Moriyasu said, ​adding that his side were representing the sporting ‌ambition of the broader region, while advancing to the knockout rounds shows the growth of football in his country.[/p][p][b]"That is what we wanted to do from the beginning of the competition, and ⁠this is proof ⁠in the growth of ‌Japanese football,"[/b] he said.[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]