The Albany Gazette - Brazil strike confident tone ahead of Japan World Cup clash

Japan defeated Carlo Ancelotti's men 3-2 at home in October in a friendly for a historic first victory over the South Americans.

Coupled with a 1-0 win over England at Wembley, Japan came into the World Cup in North America as dark horses.

Japan and Brazil meet in Houston with a place in the last 16 at stake, and Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos struck a confident tone.

The 32-year-old, who was among several defenders missing from the friendly defeat, said they had taken lessons from that night.

"I think that really was a learning experience for us," he said.

"Everything that we've been through in the last few years brought us to this point, to this present moment, in the World Cup, and everything is a learning experience.

"It's really a test, and our coach really saw what he needed to see."

He added: "I think since then, we have grown quite a bit.

"We have changed a lot as a squad.

"We have done a lot of adjustments and in the last few games I think we have grown as a team as well."

Marquinhos praised the experienced Italian Ancelotti, a serial winner at club level, for bringing stability and tactical nous.

Brazil, chasing a record-extending sixth World Cup crown, were held 1-1 by Morocco in their opening game at the World Cup before beating Haiti and Scotland, both 3-0.

They appear to be growing into the tournament, having faced a severe test against Morocco, and Marquinhos said: "There's always a lot of pride playing for the national team.

"But we were not coming together at first, (until) the adjustments that our coach made.

"He's an intelligent coach. He really knew how to improve the players," he added, referring to "some turmoil" before Ancelotti arrived in May last year.

"Everything has come together... we know that we have quality, we have a great head coach."

The 67-year-old Ancelotti, one of the most acclaimed coaches in the modern game, was in typically relaxed mood.

"We need a lot of things: A strong mind, a strong heart, a clear mind," he said.

"I think we have to be ready for anything that might take place in a knockout match, and a lot can happen in a knockout match.

"I think the team is ready. They're motivated, they're confident."

Ancelotti, at his first World Cup as a coach, said no clear favourite to win the tournament had yet emerged.

But he has been impressed by Japan, calling them "one of the best teams in the world".

"It might be that a few teams did better than others during this first group stage," he said, with holders Argentina and France both especially impressing.

"But I don't think a clear favourite has come up yet."

(W.Williams--TAG)