Japan’s national soccer team has a high-profile opportunity to set expectations ahead of next year’s World Cup in North America with a friendly match on Tuesday night in Tokyo against Brazil — a team it has never beaten.
But it won’t be easy for Samurai Blue, which only squeaked out a 2-2 draw against Paraguay in Osaka on Saturday thanks to Ayase Ueda’s equalizer in the 94th minute. Japan had fallen behind in the first half before Koki Ogawa leveled the score at 1-1.
"We’ll be playing at home and aiming for a result," said Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu at a news conference ahead of the game. "While we, of course, recognize that Brazil is one of the world’s top teams, our own players are now competing on the European stage, and we want to go toe-to-toe.
“We want to fight on equal footing, to test where we are right now and to see what we still lack. We’ll challenge ourselves, look back on the match and grow from it."
Friendly matches are gaining in importance for Japan as it prepares to build on its performance at the 2022 World Cup, where it beat Spain and Germany to top its group before falling to eventual third-place Croatia in the round of 16.
Japan won its qualifying group for next year’s event, finishing four points ahead of Australia.
But the team has not impressed since wrapping up World Cup qualification, playing to a 0-0 draw against Mexico and a 2-0 loss to the United States last month. It does have a strong record when playing on Japanese soil, however — Ueda’s equalizer against Paraguay extended a home unbeaten streak to 20 games.
And Brazil could be vulnerable after enduring its worst ever World Cup qualification campaign, finishing fifth in the South American standings. A humiliating 4-1 defeat to fierce rival Argentina in March led to the firing of head coach Dorival Junior and his replacement by former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil’s first foreign manager in 100 years.
After Ancelotti was hired in May the Selecao secured World Cup qualification without necessarily looking dominant, but it put together its most convincing performance yet on Saturday by blowing away South Korea 5-0. Real Madrid forward Rodrygo and 18-year-old Chelsea winger Estevao had two goals apiece before Rodrygo’s Real teammate Vicunious Junior added the fifth.
“Of course, the individual qualities of Brazilian players naturally create beautiful football,” Ancelotti said when asked about Brazil’s “beautiful” performance against South Korea. “But beautiful football isn’t just about flair or individual skill — it’s also about collective movement, organization and excellence both on and off the ball. That’s what I consider truly beautiful football.”
“Japan’s national team is technically very strong and very well organized,” said Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. “We’ve analyzed them closely and they’re a team that likes to control the ball, so tomorrow we’ll have to be careful not to give them space. We’ll try to neutralize their game and impose ours.”
For Japan, the motivation is clear — a chance to beat one of the world’s most storied soccer countries and to gain momentum in the run-up to the World Cup. Moriyasu is looking for fans at home to get behind Samurai Blue.
"While respecting opponents, we also need everyone here to say, 'This is Japan,' and get behind Japan to win,” he said. “If the stadium turns blue, our chances increase. It's natural to welcome a global powerhouse and superstars, but as a competition, we want a stadium dyed blue — a place where Japan wins and becomes stronger."
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.