A look ahead to a a tantalising World Cup clash between Brazil and Japan

[p]Despite not having won a knockout game at any previous WC tournament, losing in the last 16 in 2002, 2010, 2018 and 2022 (and not making it past the group stage in every other WC they'd qualified for since 1998), the Japanese have been vibrant in attack and attractive to watch in their group games.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]Brazil[/a] are in fine scoring form[/h2][p]Against a Selecao side that also seems to have found its attacking mojo, we could bear witness to one of the most free-flowing games so far, and one where goals are almost guaranteed.[/p][p]From a Brazilian perspective, since going behind in their first match against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a], they've hit seven goals without reply, which is their longest run since last winning the tournament back in 2002, and they're unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions.[/p][image alt="Vinicius Jr's goal sequence v Morocco" id="fdba423a-0e11-4292-a055-2fba3652cd7e" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="c39f30f0-1ff2-4eca-9f5f-eb78c00fda42" original-width="670" original-height="678" /][p]They will be aware, of course, of their recent knockout stage woes at the World Cup, and the recent 3-2 defeat to the Blue Samurai, which was [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ULXPdOUj/"]Japan[/a]'s only victory against them in 14 attempts. [/p][p]Not to mention that Hajime Moriyasu also masterminded victories over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/germany/ptQide1O/"]Germany[/a] during the group stages of the last World Cup, and his side were only beaten by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a] in stoppage time.[/p][h2]Japan's disastrous WC knockout record[/h2][p]As long as complacency doesn't play any part in Brazil's preparations (and with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ancelotti-carlo/nZQG5IgJ/"]Carlo Ancelotti[/a] at the helm, that's hardly likely to occur), the Selecao should hope for a relatively smooth path into the Round of 16.[/p][p]Japan have to improve on their disastrous record of only ever beating a CONMEBOL nation at the tournament once, so they need to be attack-minded; however, they can't be too gung-ho in their play either for fear of being picked off by the likes of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vinicius-junior/CbwQ4Mws/"]Vinicius Junior[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lucas-paqueta/SruRBYZP/"]Lucas Paqueta[/a].[/p][embed guid="eb5292ea-8aad-4c65-8280-78ce00d95262" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/2071519828578283543" social-type="twitter" /][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] man could become just the third Brazilian this century to score in the opening four games of a World Cup if he finds the net in this one, joining a select group that includes only [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rivaldo/f7VZ7RpI/"]Rivaldo[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ronaldo/KQjvOGor/"]Ronaldo Nazario[/a] (from the 2002 tournament).[/p][p]Defensively, Japan have been pretty solid, with six clean sheets in their last eight games in all competitions, and perhaps stifling their more celebrated opponents for long periods will be the best way to spring one of the biggest surprises of this, or any other, World Cup tournament.[/p][h2]Both teams are unbeaten in six[/h2][p]They are also unbeaten in six matches, winning four and drawing two, and letting in just three goals during that period, whilst scoring 10 themselves. Brazil's last six games have seen five wins and one draw, with them scoring 18 goals and conceding five.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ueda-ayase/8Ssd0upn/"]Ayase Ueda[/a] scored the winner against Brazil in their October friendly, and the 27-year-old already has two goals in the three games that Japan have played at the tournament to date.[/p][embed guid="caa05339-7f2b-4cdc-9a8a-2ad341307053" url="https://x.com/jfa_samuraiblue/status/2071534224679821472" social-type="twitter" /][p]Along with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kamada-daichi/bayITLyE/"]Daichi Kamada[/a], he is the joint top scorer, and if Japan are able to get their superb passing game going, both players will have the chance to extend their goalscoring record.[/p][p]Up against the likes of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gabriel/tEcnVXMS/"]Gabriel Magalhaes[/a], however, chances will be at a premium and will need to be taken.[/p][h2]No [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raphinha/xtBsDPam/"]Raphinha[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kubo-takefusa/fqdLdpc3/"]Kubo[/a], but plenty of attacking quality[/h2][p]At the other end, and despite their superb recent defensive record, they will be challenged consistently for the 90 minutes.[/p][p]If [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinelli/dITe5M88/"]Gabriel Martinelli[/a] has the chance to motor into space, for example, he's more than capable of outpacing a defence and either taking on the chance himself or setting up a teammate.[/p][p]In terms of players that will be missing for both teams, there are a couple that could've proven to be the difference makers in the knockout rounds.[/p][embed guid="69235b59-ed4c-43aa-bfec-68188cfd43ba" url="https://x.com/CBF_Futebol/status/2071354691808596258" social-type="twitter" /][p]Raphinha is still not fit enough to return for Brazil, and Japan has to make do without the services of Takefusa Kubo, arguably the most creative presence in the Blue Samurai squad. [/p][p]There's still enough quality in either team to ensure that the game will be an eminently watchable encounter, and after Brazil's recent disappointments at World Cups, surely the carrot of a potential match-up with reigning champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] further down the line will be enough to spur them on to victory.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/brazil-I9l9aqLq/japan-ULXPdOUj/?mid=f7ENGzPc"]Follow Brazil vs Japan with Flashscore[/a][/b][/p][infobox id="8a8311c3-81b3-440e-8b49-36091db073d1" /]