Assistant Coach Phạm Vương: 'Brazil and Japan meet too early'

Assistant coach of Bac Ninh Club Phạm Vương expressed regret that the two most attacking teams, Brazil and Japan, must face each other as early as the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup.

The dramatic 1-1 draw against Sweden in the final group match officially helped the "Blue Samurai Warriors" secure their spot in the knockout stage from Group F. However, the challenge awaiting the Asian representative in the first knockout round is a massive mountain: the Brazilian national team, former world champions who just finished the group stage undefeated (2 wins, 1 draw) under the guidance of veteran strategist Carlo Ancelotti.

Commenting on this fateful matchup, Mr. Phạm Vương, assistant coach of Bac Ninh Club, shared: "It is truly a pity that the Japanese team has to face Brazil in the very first knockout round.

Japan is having an extremely high-quality tournament with scientific, clear performances against top European and African opponents. Watching them compete evenly with the Netherlands or crush Tunisia, fans can clearly see the stature and spirit of a big team.

However, facing Brazil at this point is an overwhelming challenge for coach Hajime Moriyasu and his players. The South American representative remains the strongest contender for the title, possessing a squad of world-class superstars. Under coach Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil not only plays attractive attacking football but is also extremely pragmatic, knowing how to suffocate opponents at the right moment.

"I lean towards a win for Brazil, but the Japanese team with their resilient samurai spirit will certainly bring interesting surprises and make the 'Selecao' go through a tough 90 minutes."

Besides the big clash between the South American and Asian representatives, the strategic assistant of Bac Ninh Club also offered deep analysis on the contrasting styles match between the Netherlands and Morocco: "Even in the Round of 32, the 2026 World Cup has brought highly balanced and unpredictable matchups. The encounter between the Netherlands and Morocco is a typical example of two completely opposite football philosophies meeting: one represents the attractive total attacking philosophy, the other is the symbol of counter-attacking defensive play with high-speed transitions.

As a fan of attacking football, I support the Dutch team. Under coach Ronald Koeman, the 'Orange Cyclone' is operating very smoothly with a quality core including Van Dijk, De Jong, Dumfries, and Gakpo. Especially in this World Cup, the Netherlands has learned to be calculated, more pragmatic and solid in their own half instead of just charging forward.

Although Morocco is a very tough defensive filter, I believe the composure of Dutch stars will speak at the right moment to decide the match. I predict a narrow 2-1 victory in favor of coach Koeman's team."