Japan's cheerleader Minamino embraces 'underdog' tag ahead of clash with Brazil

[p]The two sides clash on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/brazil-I9l9aqLq/japan-ULXPdOUj/?mid=f7ENGzPc"]Monday 29th June (19:00 CEST) in Houston[/a] and record five-time champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]Brazil[/a] will be favourites to reach the next round.[/p][p]But [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ULXPdOUj/"]Japan[/a], considered by some to be outsiders to go far at the tournament in North America, beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ancelotti-carlo/nZQG5IgJ/"]Carlo Ancelotti[/a]'s side 3-2 in a home friendly in October.[/p][p]And [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/minamino-takumi/hIwtloy3/"]Minamino[/a], who is at the World Cup in a non-playing capacity after suffering a serious knee injury, said they can pull off another surprise.[/p][p][b]"If we play with the underdog mentality, as we always have, I believe we have the ability to make something happen in these one-off games,"[/b] said the 31-year-old, who scored in the friendly win eight months ago.[/p][embed guid="f71ad72b-67c0-4bf2-a82b-7ce9caf658b9" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2070312588190114047" social-type="twitter" /][p]Speaking to reporters on Friday at Japan's training base near Nashville, Tennessee, Minamino said attacker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kubo-takefusa/fqdLdpc3/"]Takefusa Kubo[/a] could play a part after a knee injury.[/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-sociedad/jNvak2f3/"]Real Sociedad[/a] winger came off in the 2-2 draw with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]Netherlands[/a] that launched Japan's World Cup campaign, and was not fit to feature in the subsequent Group F games against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tunisia/QqZVYk95/"]Tunisia[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sweden/OQyqbHWB/"]Sweden[/a] that ultimately saw Japan secure second place.[/p][p][b]"He is especially spirited, so he needs no encouragement from me,"[/b] Minamino said, according to Kyodo News.[/p][p][b]"Everyone believes we will welcome him back in the knockout stage, and he is rehabbing with that same belief."[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/world/world-championship/"]Follow Brazil vs Japan and all the Round of 32 matches on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]