Midfielder Do Hung Dung: 'Japan has enough courage to cause an upset against Brazil'

Japan's national team is earning strong recognition at the 2026 World Cup due to its disciplined and methodical gameplay. Yet, the test for the "Blue Samurai" in the round of 32 knockout phase is the leading candidate for the title: the Brazil national team.

From the perspective of someone who has faced Japanese football multiple times at the national team level, midfielder Do Hung Dung (Hanoi FC) believes that coach Hajime Moriyasu's squad will spring a surprise.

Sharing his thoughts on this top-tier clash, the Vietnamese Golden Ball analyzed: "It's truly unfortunate that Brazil and Japan have to meet so early, right in the first knockout round. Both are strong teams with a roster of stars capable of deciding a match in an instant, and they are expected to go deep in this tournament.

Having had the chance to face Japan multiple times, I can clearly feel their thorough preparation and extremely high level of organization. This year, Japan has a balanced squad, and their ability to advance far has been proven through quality friendly matches before the tournament.

Facing a Brazil side with so many attacking stars, it's understandable that Japan would actively choose a counter-attacking defensive style. This approach could very well help them exploit the spaces behind the South American team's system.

I lean towards a scenario where both teams hold each other to a draw after 90 minutes and extra time, and Japan will be more composed to win on the lottery of penalty kicks."

Alongside the South America vs. Asia showdown, the 1993-born midfielder also gave his assessment of the tactical battle between the Netherlands and Morocco: "This is a very tense match, as both teams have built a scientific, disciplined, and modern style of play.

The Netherlands possesses an attractive attacking style with rising stars like Reijnders, Gakpo, and Malen. Meanwhile, Morocco is extremely dangerous with a counter-attacking defense based on the strength of their wingers.

I predict this match will also be decided on penalties after a draw in regular time. In the nerve-wracking shootout, I slightly favor the Netherlands thanks to the composure and hunger of a more balanced squad."