
Nagatomo warns Japan must stay mentally tough against Brazil
Yuto Nagatomo urges his teammates to keep a clear mind and not over‑admire Brazil's stars ahead of their round‑of‑32 encounter.
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Yuto Nagatomo urges his teammates to keep a clear mind and not over‑admire Brazil's stars ahead of their round‑of‑32 encounter.

In a tightly contested Group F finale, Japan and Sweden shared a 1-1 draw that confirmed Japan's place in the round of 32. Daizen Maeda's early strike was cancelled out by Anthony Elanga's swift response, while manager Hajime Moriyasu celebrated the team's progress and looked ahead to a clash with Brazil.

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The Japanese squad is acclimatizing in Monterrey, tweaking recovery protocols and reflecting on a 2014 loss to the Ivory Coast as they gear up for matches against the Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden.

Japan secured a 1-0 victory over Iceland in a friendly ahead of their opening World Cup match against the Netherlands on June 14, with manager Hajime Moriyasu overseeing a high‑tempo send‑off.

Injured winger Kaoru Mitoma misses the roster, while captain Wataru Endo and veteran Yuto Nagatomo earn spots. Japan opens its tournament against the Netherlands on June 14, hoping to surpass the round of 16 for the first time.