Brazil

vs

Japan

Preview

Japan

• 3-4-2-1 or 4-2-3-1 formation is built around a pressing game, quick vertical play and compact spacing between the lines.
• They don't give the ball away, they are relentless in their pressing, they cover the field compactly and they have turnovers and speed in behind.
• Brazil will try to exploit the channels and the wide areas, whereas Japan will press for turnovers and run on the counter-attack.

Brazil

• 4-3-3 can be altered to a 4-1-3-2 or 4-1-4-1 formation, relying on vertical attacks down the flanks and counter-pressing.
• Carlo Ancelotti has only been in charge of Brazil since 26 May 2025, but he has already introduced more structure and sharper counter-pressing, two things that we'll expect to see in the Brazilian game in this matchup.
• They've won their last two games, beating Haiti 3-0 at home before taking Scotland 3-0 in away fixtures, so the attack is firing cleanly.

Betting Insights

• The price on Japan and the draw look a bit short here, with 4.86 and 3.7 respective odds, so we're going against the grain and taking the odds-on favorite at 1.81.
• Under 2.5 goals at 1.82 and BTTS - No at 1.83 also look like solid bets in this encounter.

Prediction

• We think that Brazil can edge this one, but Japan's unbeaten run and this matchup, which sets up a pressing system against a flowing team, looks more like a game where Brazil will need to dig in and grind it out.
• It could be cagey.