Star Metro - Japan say bring on Brazil at World Cup but wary of revenge mission

Hajime Moriyasu's side reached the knockout rounds with a 1-1 draw against Sweden at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

They finished runners-up behind Group F winners the Netherlands after one win and two draws.

Now the real competition begins when they face a Brazil team boasting Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior and coached by the acclaimed Italian Carlo Ancelotti.

"There is no bigger stage," defender Yukinari Sugawara said following Thursday's nervy stalemate with Sweden.

"We need to give 120 percent against Brazil, and to do that we need to be together as one as a team and a country, and prepare with everything we've got."

Brazil, who have won the World Cup a record five times, will be favourites to reach the last 16 in North America.

But Japan are considered dark horses to go far at the tournament, and beat Brazil 3-2 at home in a friendly in October.

Moriyasu warned his men that a sense of revenge will be on the minds of the Brazilians.

"Perhaps because of that match, they will be motivated even more," said Moriyasu.

Veteran defender Shogo Taniguchi said it was all or nothing now.

"From here on, if we lose it's all over. We need to move into a higher gear for the next game," he said.

Japan took a second-half lead through Daizen Maeda only for Anthony Elanga to quickly level for Sweden with a shot that goalkeeper Zion Suzuki might have done better with.

Japan were hanging on by the end, but Suzuki said they can beat anyone on their day, having also defeated England at Wembley in the lead-up to the World Cup.

"We know that they're a strong team but if we do things right, we can definitely win," he said of the Brazilians.

"I want to approach this game as if it’s the final."

S.Belanger--SMC