It does not get bigger than this!
Second round comes with a bang and the game that has triggered wild speculation is the match between Brazil and Japan.
But before we go into an analysis, the fact that this game is at the centre of so much talk is nothing but an endorsement of the rise of an Asian side.
That Japan is now deemed a formidable foe is something we should all rejoice.
Even at the turn of the century, Asian sides were not taken seriously until the Korea-Japan World Cup in 2002.
Over the years, Asian sides have made marked improvements with Japan beating both Spain and Germany in 2022.
That is indeed a signal as to what the Samurai can achieve.
However, in 2022, their victory parade ended in the second round when they lost to Croatia in the penalties.
The point being, second round is a totally different ball game because a team takes to the field with the shadow of total elimination hanging over their heads.
This is where big teams survive because they have faced such situations before.
This is not to say, Japan will choke but against Brazil, there will be an added pressure.
The last time the two sides met at the World Cup was in 2006 when Brazil won 4-1.
Twenty years later, it’s a different picture.
Former Brazil star from World Cups 1982 and 1986, Zico, who later coached Japan, has categorically stated that Japan has made phenomenal progress in the last two decades and plays a very fast paced, attack driven game which can unsettle any opponent.
Japan certainly has the firepower which we saw against Tunisia.
They will be heading to the game with the famous Samurai battle chant: Ei Ei O!
Brazil on the other hand will need to take this as the first major hurdle in their quest for the title.
The road to the top is never easy and it’s always better to face the tough sides first.
There has been a lot of talk in recent times about the erratic performance of Brazil but at the ongoing World Cup, the team has shown they only become better with the games.
Vinicius Jr is in imperious form and Neymar will want to silence all naysayers.
So, what is the prediction?
Actually, trying to predict the outcome of any match would be daft.
At this stage, many games will be decided through penalties and, therefore, the ultimate saviour will be the goalkeepers.
“It will be a tough match, Japan will fight till the end, but I feel, sometimes, the name Brazil is enough to unsettle opponents,” asserts Sumon, a Dhaka University Gymnasium staffer plus a Brazil supporter.
Instead of picking a side which might win, another football fan said something worth deeper introspection: “the team which has the capacity to go far should win.”
Let’s all look forward to a pulsating game!
