"Japanese Football to Reach World Cup Quarterfinals" Brazilian Soccer Legend Expresses Confidence

*This content was translated by AI.

Zico (73), the former "Brazilian soccer legend" who previously coached the Japanese national team and led them to victory in the 2004 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, predicted that Japan will reach the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup.

According to Japanese media outlets including Football Zone on the 8th, Zico, currently a technical advisor for Kashima Antlers in Japan, stated in a local interview, "I remain confident that the Japanese national team will reach the quarterfinals of the North American World Cup." He further forecasted Japan's advancement to the quarterfinals.

Regarding the group stage draw where Japan is placed in a group with the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia, Advisor Zico analyzed, "It is difficult to say that the Netherlands has achieved significant results in recent years, but they are undoubtedly a team capable of strong performances." He added, "Tunisia is a strong team that defeated France in the previous tournament."

He continued, "Sweden also has a striker, Victor Jokere, who plays for Arsenal in England. With a player starting for a team that reached the UEFA Champions League final and is a strong contender for the English Premier League (EPL) title, the group stage will not be easy for Japan," he predicted.

However, he emphasized, "One factor that must not be forgotten is that Japan advanced as the top team in the group stage during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, even though they were drawn in a group with Germany and Spain." At that time, Japan defeated Germany in the first group stage match but lost to Costa Rica in the second match. In the final match, they defeated Spain and advanced to the round of 16 as the group winner.

Regarding the surprise group stage victory that shocked the world during the Qatar World Cup, Advisor Zico remarked, "It proved the value of Japanese football." He also added, "As this tournament approaches, although some players have been sidelined due to injuries, the team still possesses the players capable of fully realizing what Coach Hajime Moriyasu has built."

Meanwhile, the Japanese national team is being hailed as a dark horse in this tournament not only by Coach Zico but also by major foreign media outlets worldwide. Japan defeated Brazil, who had previously crushed South Korea 5-0 last year, with a 3-2 victory, and in March, they became the first Asian national team to defeat England 1-0, continuing their impressive momentum.

Coach Zico, a Brazilian soccer legend who predicted Japan's advancement to the World Cup quarterfinals despite their best-ever historical result being the round of 16, took charge of the Japanese national team immediately after the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup and led Japanese football for four years. Under Coach Zico's leadership, Japan won the 2004 Asian Cup but failed to advance from the group stage at the 2006 Germany World Cup, finishing with one draw and two losses. Since retiring as a coach in 2016, he has served as a technical director for Kashima and is currently active as a technical advisor.

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*This content was translated by AI.