Dugout Discussion
29 June 2026 180 comments
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The first of the day’s Round of 32 matches takes place in Houston, and it’s an intriguing-looking clash we’ve got in store: Brazil v Japan.

Kick-off is at 18:00 BST.

The bookies unsurprisingly make Brazil the favourites, giving them approximately a 70% chance of making it through this potentially tricky encounter.

But the Blue Samurai emerged from their group undefeated, and indeed haven’t lost a game since last September. They’ve even defeated the Selecao in that time, winning 3-2 back in October.

TEAM NEWS

The team news is straightforward for Brazil, as Carlo Ancelotti keeps the same starting XI that beat Scotland 3-0.

Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu does make alterations, however.

There are four changes from the 1-1 draw with Sweden.

Takehiro Tomiyasu ($4.9m) and Shogo Taniguchi ($3.9m) come in for Ayumu Seko ($3.8m) and Ko Itakura ($4.5m) at the rear, while Kaishu Sano ($4.9m) is preferred to Ao Tanaka ($5.0m) in central midfield.

The other tweak sees Junya Ito ($5.0m) replace Yukinari Sugawara ($4.4m), which presumably means Ritsu Doan ($5.1m) moves from right wing to right wing-back.

LINE-UPS

Brazil XI: Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Douglas Santos; Guimaraes, Casemiro, Paqueta; Rayan, Cunha, Vinicius Jr.

Japan XI: Zion Suzuki; Tomiyasu, Taniguchi, Hiroki Ito; Doan, Sano, Kamada, Nakamura; Junya Ito, Maeda; Ueda.


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  1. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    4 hours, 7 mins ago

    Bruno Guimarães still at 4.9% ownership.

    1. Travel Notes
      • 3 Years
      1 hour, 57 mins ago

      Sure to go up now.

  2. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    4 hours, 5 mins ago

    Brazil XI: Allison; Danilo, Marquinhos ©, Gabriel, Douglas Santos; Bruno Guimarães, Casemiro, Paqueta; Rayan, Cunha, Vinicius Jr

    Japan XI: Suzuki; Tomiyasu, Taniguchi, H. Itō; J. Ito, Sano, Kamada, Nakamura; Maeda, Doan ©; Ueda

    Just in case....

  3. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    4 hours, 4 mins ago

    Lol. Ancelotti singing the Brazil anthem 😆

  4. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    4 hours, 2 mins ago

    These two sides should have played yesterday’s efforts, so it would at least be a R16 game…

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      4 hours, 1 min ago

      Want both teams to win this one…

    2. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 hours ago

      Yeah feels like it's a round, or maybe a couple of rounds, too early for this match up.

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        3 hours, 56 mins ago

        Agreed

  5. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    4 hours ago

    Italy involved in the VAR team, so they made it in the end, congratulations…

  6. Qaiss
    • 10 Years
    3 hours, 42 mins ago

    I’ll say it

    Matterface and Dixon are the worst commentary duo for a football match on mainstream TV that we’ve ever had

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      3 hours, 38 mins ago

      Sadly there’s a lot of competition these days - commentators used to add so much to the excitement and atmosphere of a game…no more, alas

      1. Qaiss
        • 10 Years
        3 hours, 34 mins ago

        Martin Tyler always talked about what is on the pitch. John Motson the same

        Tyldesley had scripted lines but it didn’t sound cringe and he was extremely enthusiastic

        Guy Mowbray is brilliant but Matterface must have dirt on the bosses at ITV. Can’t believe they sacked Tyldesley for him

        1. Jafooli
          • 14 Years
          3 hours, 31 mins ago

          Yep, weird decision, most likely age related…

    2. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 hours, 36 mins ago

      Prefer Lee Dixon to Shearer tbh, though McManaman is the worst for me.

  7. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 hours, 39 mins ago

    Decent game so far, Brazil had it far too easy against Scotland so we still don't know their true quality yet.

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 33 mins ago

      Didn't watch brazil vs morocco?

  8. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 34 mins ago

    Similar game to yday. Brazil like canada trying, japan like south africa defending. Little bit difference in quality of course

  9. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 34 mins ago

    Ronaldinho is such a gangsta, absolute legend of the game…

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 31 mins ago

      Always made me smile, when watching him play.

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        3 hours, 30 mins ago

        Even when strolling around, was awesome….

    2. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      3 hours, 31 mins ago

      Endless aura

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        3 hours, 30 mins ago

        Farms it for free….

  10. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 32 mins ago

    25mins re-coaching break…

  11. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 29 mins ago

    Great goal Japan….get it

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      3 hours, 28 mins ago

      Casemiro legs stuck in mud…

    2. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 28 mins ago

      Well struck from the DMF

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        3 hours, 25 mins ago

        Perfect placement…

  12. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 hours, 29 mins ago

    Let's go Japan!!!!!!!!!

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      3 hours, 27 mins ago

      Not gonna happen, but if Japan won this WC, I’d be delighted….

  13. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 29 mins ago

    Sano the main super star

    1. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 26 mins ago

      Mainz*

    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 24 mins ago

      Which club does he play for?

      1. PartyTime
        • 4 Years
        3 hours, 4 mins ago

        DMF for Mainz

        1. jacob1989
          • 4 Years
          2 hours, 55 mins ago

          Just read that is his 1st ever international goal! What a time to get it

  14. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    3 hours, 28 mins ago

    What a finish!

    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      3 hours, 28 mins ago

      He’s lucky to be on the pitch 😆

      Casemiro has gone back to his Ten Hag second season form

  15. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 28 mins ago

    First blood to Japan

  16. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 28 mins ago

    Haha go japan!

  17. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 26 mins ago

    Japan should just run everything at/through Casemiro until he gets sent off…

  18. Qaiss
    • 10 Years
    3 hours, 25 mins ago

    Some of Ancelotti’s choices in this squad are strange

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 18 mins ago

      Who do u want? Ronaldo 9, ronaldinho, romario?

      1. Qaiss
        • 10 Years
        3 hours, 17 mins ago

        Casemiro can’t run

        Joao Pedro is way better than Igor Thiago, Ancelotti didn’t realise that until half-time of their first match

        1. jacob1989
          • 4 Years
          3 hours, 5 mins ago

          Yeah j pedro would have been better than i Thiago or cunha perhaps. But no guarantee that will improve the team

  19. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    3 hours, 25 mins ago

    Did Santos to Dest last minute because I was afraid of this happening

  20. JBG
    • 8 Years
    3 hours, 24 mins ago

    Triple up on Brazil not looking so good atm

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      3 hours, 21 mins ago

      Which three?

      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        3 hours, 7 mins ago

        Alisson, Vini and Bruno G

    2. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      3 hours, 21 mins ago

      Qualification booster already on the ropes 😆

      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        3 hours, 20 mins ago

        Luckily got only vinicius

        1. Fifa las vegas
          • 13 Years
          3 hours, 16 mins ago

          I did a fairly last minute switch from Oyarzabal to Cunha which is so far looking like a disaster. Second half might change things. Casemiro probably needs to come off again anyway for a start

          1. karam94
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            3 hours, 14 mins ago

            Haha same but it was because of the Canadian 3.5m defender being benched

    3. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 14 mins ago

      Triple up until deadline for me.. glad I offloaded

  21. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 21 mins ago

    Gabriel & Casemiro at fault for that goal

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 20 mins ago

      Or maybe just a great strike?

      1. PartyTime
        • 4 Years
        2 hours, 58 mins ago

        Gabriel didn't attempt to close the gap & block the shot while Casemiro's old fibulas couldn't catch up

    2. Travel Notes
      • 3 Years
      3 hours, 3 mins ago

      Casemiro on a yellow stunted his options.

  22. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    3 hours, 18 mins ago

    Do something Vini!

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      3 hours, 17 mins ago

      I’ll happily take dropped points for a Japan win…

      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        3 hours, 15 mins ago

        Same here. Plenty of chances to change c and sub out

      2. Bobby Digital
        • 8 Years
        3 hours, 15 mins ago

        Yeah will be exciting to captain Wirtz in the next game 😛

        1. Jafooli
          • 14 Years
          3 hours, 13 mins ago

          I’ll be switching to Nmecha, yikes…

          1. Thanos
            • 4 Years
            3 hours, 12 mins ago

            Musiala here 😆

            1. Fifa las vegas
              • 13 Years
              3 hours, 10 mins ago

              I have no Germans 🙁

              1. Thanos
                • 4 Years
                3 hours, 8 mins ago

                I got 2 😆

              2. jacob1989
                • 4 Years
                3 hours, 7 mins ago

                I got only kimmich.

        2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
          • 9 Years
          2 hours, 53 mins ago

          Sane here

  23. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 17 mins ago

    Brazil don’t even have Richarlison or Antony to bring on…

    1. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 hours, 14 mins ago

      I'd forgotten about Antony (as a United fan I may have blocked him from my brain).

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        3 hours, 12 mins ago

        Possibly one of the worst spells at any club by any footballer ever…that spin thing he kept doing was horrific…

        1. Goro Majima
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 hours, 11 mins ago

          That spin thing was his highlights reel!

    2. Thanos
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 12 mins ago

      Its Vinny or bust.

      Or Neymar time!!!

  24. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 16 mins ago

    Vinicius is really the only threatening player of brazil esp with raphinha injured. They did only finish 5th in wc qualifying which would have meant a playoff under old rules

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      3 hours, 14 mins ago

      Endrick meant to have flair…

  25. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 13 mins ago

    This ref has been really impressive so far.

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      3 hours, 11 mins ago

      And VAR all tournament, how can’t they use it in the same way for PL?

    2. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      3 hours, 10 mins ago

      Most refs are outside the PL..

    3. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 8 mins ago

      All refs and var have been superb. I cant remember a single major controversy. For one, no soft penalities given unlike in PL

  26. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 9 mins ago

    Japan look so well organised in defense

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      3 hours, 6 mins ago

      And work rate, hope they can keep it up…

  27. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 2 mins ago

    Why don't pl teams or other big teams shoot more often from distance? So many goals outside the box this wc

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      3 hours, 1 min ago

      They used to, coached out of them and switch to set pieces and trying to chuck ball in the goal from throw-ins…

      1. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        2 hours, 59 mins ago

        And too much tiki taka, trying to get perfect goal i guess

  28. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 2 mins ago

    Each time they replay the Sano goal, Casemiro gets left further behind lol….

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      3 hours ago

      Buy it was danilo i think with the wrong pass

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        2 hours, 58 mins ago

        Yep…

    2. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 56 mins ago

      😆 look at those old tired legs. Gabriel also indecisive

  29. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 1 min ago

    Wont be surprised if Thiago comes on at HT.

    Brazil need a central point to take away the attention from likes of Vinny.

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      2 hours, 58 mins ago

      Endrick and Martinelli also…

  30. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    2 hours, 49 mins ago

    OAP off, Endrick on…