Brazil’s quest to win a record sixth World Cup heads into the knockout stages on Monday as Carlo Ancelotti’s team face Japan in the Round of 32 at the Houston Stadium.
The Brazilians are desperate to win the World Cup again, 24 years after they last lifted the trophy, and they eased through the group stage in first place above Morocco, with Vinicius Junior playing a starring role by scoring four goals.
The South Americans may be the favourites to progress to the last 16, but Japan are dangerous opponents and unlikely to make life easy in the first game of the day in Houston.
Brazil are well aware of the threat posed by Japan, having lost 3-2 when the teams met in a friendly last October.
The last non-European nation to knock Brazil out of a World Cup was Argentina, in 1990, but Japan are confident they can beat the Brazilians.
The winners will advance to a last-16 tie on Sunday against Ivory Coast or Norway in New Jersey.
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