The Brazilian national team opens its friendly preparatory season for the 2018 World Cup in Russia on Friday, November 10. At the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve d’Ascq (Lille), France, it measures their forces with Japan. The game starts scheduled for 10am (BrasÃlia time).
Japan’s recent performance
As the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup finals ended earlier, the Japanese team has held two friendlies after securing their qualification. The results were not the most encouraging. In early October he defeated New Zealand, who are in contention for a place in the 2018 World Cup through the recap, by 2-1. Then, he stumbled in the fragile selection of Haiti by getting a 3-3 draw.
The Japanese campaign has been a constant presence in the world since the 1998 World Cup in France. The results obtained, however, can not be considered significant. The best result was the qualification for the knockout rounds, which happened in the 2002 World Cup, which he hosted in partnership with South Korea, and also in 2010 in the World Cup in South Africa.
The trajectory towards the sixth consecutive world began already in the second phase of the Asian qualifiers. Waived for the participation in the initial stage, the team of Japan was champion of the group E, that still had Syria (also classified), Singapore, Afghanistan and Cambodia. He added 22 points (seven wins and one draw) of the 24 possible scoring 27 goals and not suffering a single try.
The confirmation of the vacancy came with the conquest of the first place of group B of the third phase. It was not unbeaten, but the Japanese managed to accumulate 20 points (six wins, two draws and two losses). Once again showed the strength of his defense, the least leaked of the key with seven goals conceded. The opposing network was rocked 17 times.
The current form of Brazil
With participation in all the world championships, the Brazilian campaign in the South American qualifiers has a milestone: the exchange of command. Before Tite, the team was threatened to stay out of a World Cup for the first time in history. After Dunga’s dismissal, he fired a winning streak that culminated in the four-day advance.
Brazil reached the first place in the competition, which lasted 18 rounds, accumulating 41 points (12 wins, 5 draws and a loss). Although they have not had the opportunity to play friendly qualifiers, the last four matches of the tournament can be considered a preparation for the World Cup, since the vacancy for Russia 2018 was guaranteed.
Tite, who was responsible for the radical change in tactics and also the behavior of athletes, remained firmly on the strategy of building a base and doing small tests for double rounds of official and now friendly matches. To face the Japanese and following England on November 14, he called 25 athletes. But he has already lost two of them for the first game.
Injured, the socks Philippe Coutinho and Diego were vetoed from the match in France. They were not cut. They continue with the group and have hopes of recovery before the meeting with the English.
The summoned were:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Roma), Ederson (Manchester City) and Cassio (Corinthians);
Defenders: Alex Sandro (Juventus), Daniel Alves (PSG), Danilo (City), Jemerson (Monaco), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Miranda (Inter Milan) and Thiago Silva (PSG);
Midfielders: Casemiro (Real Madrid), Diego (Flamengo), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Giuliano (Fenerbahçe), Paulinho (Barcelona), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan) and Willian (Chelsea);
Attackers: Diego Souza (Sport), Douglas Costa (Juventus), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Neymar (PSG) and Taison (Shakhtar).
History of the matches Japan vs Brazil
The Brazilian team was never defeated by the Japanese. In 11 meetings, he won nine times and drew two. In world teams, their paths crossed only once. In the Cup of 2006, in Germany, Brazil thrashed by 4 to 1.
There is no doubt that the Brazilian team has a great technical superiority in comparison with Japan. In this way, it becomes the best guessing option for Friday’s showdown with a price of 1.25 on Bet365. Draw shows return of 5.50 and Japanese success allows the multiplication by 12.00 of the amount invested.