Dugout Discussion
29 June 2026 180 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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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.


180 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 hours, 33 mins ago

    Going to be a good 2nd half to watch, full backs and central midfield lacking in quality for Brazil imo

  2. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    2 hours, 31 mins ago

    Neymar, just finished a five year bender in the nightclub, warming up…

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

    How no Brazil goal wow…

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

      …or Japan goal, geez…

  4. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    2 hours, 27 mins ago

    What was that save sequence 😮

  5. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    2 hours, 26 mins ago

    How did brazil not score there?? Wow

  6. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    2 hours, 26 mins ago

    Casemiro G

  7. Qaiss
    • 10 Years
    2 hours, 26 mins ago

    All Gabriel that goal !

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      2 hours, 23 mins ago

      6.5m in FPL season coming, or even 7.0m?

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 8 Years
        2 hours, 9 mins ago

        If Vidic was 8.0m, then shirley Gabriel will be at least 7.0m

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

          True…

    2. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      1 hour, 51 mins ago

      Amazing athleticism to get on the end of his own cross

  8. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    2 hours, 26 mins ago

    Casemiro goal lol…

    1. The Florentine assassin
      • 3 Years
      2 hours, 24 mins ago

      Just like some of the commentators i really thought Carlo would have taken off Casemiro with him being on the yellow as well.

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

    Well to those who wrote off casemiro

  10. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    2 hours, 23 mins ago

    OMG Vinny 🙁

  11. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    2 hours, 23 mins ago

    Vini post, wozzer…

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      2 hours, 22 mins ago

      Another great save from Suzuki…

  12. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    2 hours, 23 mins ago

    Suzuki deserves a better club

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      2 hours, 22 mins ago

      Probably will after this WC performance…

  13. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 hours, 23 mins ago

    Vini almost . Great save mind.

  14. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 hours, 22 mins ago

    Are you being entertained?

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      2 hours, 20 mins ago

      Great game, ET would be a bonus…

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

    Not for one minute did I doubt Casemiro 😆

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      2 hours, 20 mins ago

      None of us did 😉

    2. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 hours, 20 mins ago

      Either a goal or a second yellow

  16. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    2 hours, 20 mins ago

    What a game lads!

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 12 mins ago

      Very entertaining and also such a huge difference from yesterday

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

    In overall terms, is there a more iconic World Cup strip than Brazil yellow? Can’t think of one…

    1. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      2 hours ago

      Not many but Germany's white & black

    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 hour, 50 mins ago

      Argentina light blue and white stripes

    3. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 hour, 48 mins ago

      Nigeria's in 2018 was pretty nice

  18. JBG
    • 8 Years
    2 hours, 1 min ago

    Kimd of weird sub taking off Cunha when you need a goal. I know he hasn't done much, but he's exactly the type of player that just pops up with a goal when you need it.

    1. NZREDS
      • 12 Years
      1 hour, 57 mins ago

      Yeah strange

    2. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      1 hour, 55 mins ago

      Apparently, 3 goals in 3 games wasn't enough

  19. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    1 hour, 57 mins ago

    Japan 1-2 Brazil prediction looking good but how will Brazil score the 2nd after they subbed Cunha off? It seems Ancelotti is reliant on Casemiro

    1. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      1 hour, 55 mins ago

      Same prediction

      Have value not cap
      Also on Bruno g and qualification booster !

      1. PartyTime
        • 4 Years
        1 hour, 43 mins ago

        Bruno G delivers. He has been super consistent. I considered but opted to go without.

        Well done!

        1. Gizzachance
          • 11 Years
          1 hour, 41 mins ago

          Cheers

          Yes he’s been consistent, ticking along nicely

  20. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 hour, 55 mins ago

    Brazil so wasteful... might come back and bite them in the arse

  21. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 hour, 49 mins ago

    Brazil hopes fading. Their goalscorer subbed off.

  22. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    1 hour, 48 mins ago

    ET loading

  23. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 hour, 46 mins ago

    There it is, deservedly so

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      1 hour, 46 mins ago

      Martinelli G, Bruno G A

  24. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    1 hour, 46 mins ago

    Brazil win it at the end!!!

  25. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    1 hour, 46 mins ago

    BrunoG Assist
    Martinelli Goal

  26. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 hour, 46 mins ago

    Gutted….such a shame, but probably deserved

    1. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 hour, 43 mins ago

      Feel really sorry for them but Brazil have dominated the second half. Shame it was a defensive mistake though.

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        1 hour, 42 mins ago

        Yep and Brazil probably more chance of going further, but look far from convincing….need to up their game by a peg or three..

  27. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    1 hour, 45 mins ago

    Good that Brazil wins. I don't like watching parked busses

  28. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 hour, 45 mins ago

    Terrible by japan. Another knockout round decided with minute winner. All good work by japan undone. Dont deserve to go thru with such errors

    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      1 hour, 43 mins ago

      * last minute winner

  29. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    1 hour, 44 mins ago

    Lol... Japan scared the shite outta Brazil

  30. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    1 hour, 42 mins ago

    Saying it first here. Haaland and norway gonna knockout average brazil. Nor sure ivory coast can

    1. z13
      • 1 Year
      1 hour, 38 mins ago

      Provided we beat Mexico and Brazil beat Norway (by no means guaranteed), I think we meet them in the QF's