Brazil call the Japan tie 'a final' — and Zico warns his homeland

'This is a final,' Ancelotti said

At his eve-of-match press conference in Houston, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti framed the Japan tie in stark terms. "We have total respect. We'll prepare as if it were a final, because it is a final." He called Japan "one of the best teams in the world, 13th in the ranking, and they beat England in March," and listed what the match would demand: "mind, heart and a clear idea" (Terra).

His language about the knockout was just as firm. "This isn't mata-mata [knockout]. It's mata — kill or be killed. There's no way back." Brazil, he said, are "prepared for everything that can happen," extra time and penalties included (Terra). He also made clear he would not be drawn into pre-match sparring. According to ESPN, after a young Japan player alluded to Brazil being fallen giants, Ancelotti replied: "We're not doing what they call in England 'mind games.' We're not going there" (ESPN).

Why Brazil are this wary

The reason is in the record. In Ancelotti's 15 games in charge, only three teams have beaten Brazil — and one of them is Japan. On October 14 last year, in a friendly in Tokyo, Japan came back from two goals down in the first half to win 3-2. It was the first defeat Brazil had ever suffered to Japan (Gazeta Esportiva/AFP).

Japan's recent victims do not stop there: in the last stretch they have also beaten England, Germany, Spain and Italy. One of the few losses of Ancelotti's reign was to that same Japan.

Zico, the man who knows both Brazil and Japan, sounds the alarm

The most concrete warning came from someone who knows both countries inside out. Zico — long a Kashima player, and the coach of Japan at the 2006 World Cup (where Brazil beat Japan 4-2) — told FIFA's official channel: "Japan are prepared for any opponent." He pointed to recent wins over Brazil, Germany, Spain, Italy and England, praising not only their technique but their "emotional control in the hardest matches," and noted that 23 of their 26 players are based in Europe (FIFA).

His position is complicated. In another interview Zico said, "If Brazil win, great; if they lose, I won't be sad" — before adding, "But I'm Brazilian, so I'll be cheering for Brazil" (Terra).

The captain, too, warns against complacency

Captain Marquinhos checked the favoritism himself. He recalled his own PSG being knocked out by Botafogo at last year's Club World Cup, and Brazil's 2022 exit to Croatia, saying: "We have to show it in actions, in performance, that we're the better team." "There's no reason to disrespect Japan. They played good matches in the group stage and good friendlies against strong sides. If anything, they arrived at this World Cup in better shape than we did" (Terra).

Japan are without their attacking pivot: Takefusa Kubo's left-knee injury rules him out, manager Hajime Moriyasu confirmed, though Moriyasu added, "We won't change our identity" (Terra). The 15th meeting between the two kicks off at 2 a.m. Japan time on June 30 at NRG Stadium in Houston, shown on Fuji TV, NHK BS and DAZN.