Brazil captain Marquinhos has warned his team to treat Japan with the utmost respect in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 clash.
Speaking in the official pre-match press conference in Houston, he stated that the group stage is over and that a new tournament begins, specifically citing Japan’s historic 3-2 friendly victory over Brazil as a vital learning experience.
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“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.”
“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.
“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.
“We’ve analysed Japan in recent days, and we know they’re a team of great quality. We’ve prepared a strategy to try to limit their strengths and make the most of our own qualities.
“The group stage is now behind us. Securing qualification and finishing first was our main goal, but from tomorrow a new tournament begins. 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.”
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Recall that Brazil finished top of Group C and faces Group F runners-up Japan in Houston.
On the other hand, Japan qualified for the knockout rounds for the third consecutive World Cup after an impressive group stage where they held the Netherlands 2-2, thrashed Tunisia 4-0, and drew with Sweden.
