Young Rayan, Brazil take aim at Japan in World Cup clash

In a friendly in Tokyo last October, Brazil surrendered a two-goal halftime lead and watched Japan pull ahead for an eventual 3-2 victory.

Rayan, a 19-year-old forward, was not part of Brazil's team that day, so perhaps he can be forgiven for admitting he doesn't know much about the Japanese squad.

"I don't know who their best player is," Rayan said when a Japanese reporter asked him. "I'd have to watch the video to be able to tell you. We know that Japan is a very strong team and we have to work hard to give it our all and beat them."

The Selecao will be on alert when they come face to face with the Samurai Blue in the round of 32 on Monday afternoon in Houston.

Options Rayan could have considered in his answer included Takefusa Kubo, a forward nicknamed "the Japanese Messi," or perhaps Ayase Ueda, a Feyenoord striker with 18 goals for his national team. Ueda and Daichi Kamada are tied for the team lead with two goals apiece in the group stage -- and Ueda had the go-ahead goal in that 3-2 upset back in October.

Japan are nevertheless the clear underdogs going into this match. They finished second to Netherlands in Group F with a win over overmatched Tunisia and two draws. They don't have the history that Brazil can boast, but Japan have qualified for the knockouts at three straight World Cups and four of the past five, though never advancing past the round of 16.

"For the good of football in Japan, I think it would be a very good experience," coach Hajime Moriyasu said through a translator. "We do believe there's a chance for us to win. And then we hope that we will be able to move one step further and move on to the next stage."

After opening with a draw against Morocco, Brazil rang up 3-0 wins over Haiti and Scotland to win Group C. Vinicius Junior (four) and Matheus Cunha (three) have combined to score all of Brazil's goals thus far, with Bruno Guimaraes earning assists on three.

They've made up for the absence of Neymar, who was not ready at the onset of the tournament as he rehabbed a calf injury suffered May 17 while playing for his club. Neymar made his first showing of the tournament Wednesday by subbing on for the last 15 minutes against Scotland.

For what it's worth, Neymar scored his first goal for the Selecao against Japan in a FIFA Confederations Cup match in 2013, and in a friendly the following year the ex-wunderkind poured in four goals.

The Brazil faithful hope coach Carlo Ancelotti has the team on course for its record sixth World Cup win and first since 2002.

"We're not perfect. We can improve. For example, our pace on the ball. We can be quicker," Ancelotti said after the Scotland match. "But I'm pleased because the team has improved a lot since the first match. Now it's a knockout competition. We need to show real grit."

--Field Level Media