Brazil Eyes Record Sixth World Cup Title as Knockout Stage Begins Against Japan

Brazil's pursuit of a record sixth World Cup title begins its knockout phase campaign on Monday against Japan in Houston. Coach Carlo Ancelotti's squad, which topped its group ahead of Morocco, is determined to lift the trophy for the first time in 24 years. Vinícius Júnior has been a standout performer, scoring four goals during the group stage.

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We need to play with our heads and hearts, and be clear about what we want to do. We need to be ready for everything that can happen in a knockout tie.

Despite being favorites, Brazil is wary of Japan's capabilities, recalling a 3-2 friendly defeat to them last October. "We need to play with our heads and hearts, and be clear about what we want to do. We need to be ready for everything that can happen in a knockout tie," Ancelotti stated, emphasizing his team's confidence while preparing for the possibility of extra time and penalties.

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I think that really was a learning experience for us.

Japan, who finished second in Group F behind the Netherlands, enters the match with strong team unity. Coach Hajime Moriyasu expressed confidence in his squad's cohesion. The winner of the Brazil-Japan match will advance to face either Ivory Coast or Norway in the next round.

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The team is united and that feeling is getting even stronger now.

In other last-16 fixtures, four-time champions Germany take on Paraguay. Coach Julian Nagelsmann insists Germany must aim to win every game, despite not being widely considered top contenders. Paraguay advanced as one of the best third-place finishers and faces a challenging task, having had to relocate rapidly for this match.

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When you talk about the German national team, it is all about trying to win every game. It is all about winning the game tomorrow.