Brazil will face Japan in the round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup, and Marquinhos attended the pre-match press conference.

The last time Brazil played Japan, which was a friendly match, was Brazil's last loss to Japan, and also the only time they have lost to Japan. You did not participate then, you were injured, and 5 of the defenders from that match are not on this FIFA World Cup roster. How did you view that match from the sidelines?

I think that match was an important lesson for us. Everything we have experienced over the past few years, leading up to this stage of the FIFA World Cup, has become our accumulation and testing ground. The coach also saw what he wanted to see from it. For me, watching such a match when I couldn't play for the national team was indeed difficult. We always wish we could be on the field, helping our teammates.

But that match really made us see some issues clearly. Since then, a lot has changed. The team has been continuously growing, whether at the overall level or in recent matches, including during the FIFA World Cup, we have been improving. The situation is completely different now, the two teams are meeting in a knockout match. So we will face the match with the experience we have accumulated during this period.

We have already analyzed the Japanese team these past few days. We know they are a very strong team. For tomorrow's match, we have also formulated corresponding strategies, and will try to leverage our strengths while limiting the opponent's strong points. It can be said that starting tomorrow, it will be a brand new stage. The group stage is over, and finishing first in the group was very important for us, that was also our goal. But from now on, every match is a new challenge, and details will determine success or failure. We will go all out and strive to play an excellent match tomorrow.

We certainly don't know the specific starting lineup for tomorrow, but if Ancelotti uses the same lineup he highly praised in the last match, it will be the first time he has used the same starting lineup consecutively in over a year of coaching. We also know that the team has experienced multiple coaching changes and different working methods before, and he himself has had limited time to mature the team. What does this mean for you? What advantages will maintaining lineup continuity bring as the Brazil team gradually shows improvement?

If he continues to use this lineup tomorrow, it means we are in good form right now, and it also means we are improving and on the right track. Entering the knockout stage, we will be more confident than when we started this tournament. As for tomorrow's arrangements, we still need to wait, he hasn't fully explained it to us yet, he will give clearer details in the next few hours or tomorrow.

However, we are very confident now. We know this will be a very difficult match, and we are fully prepared. Combining the experience of past FIFA World Cups, we know how important it is to be in top form at critical moments. Especially in a match like this, it's not just a "knockout match," but a "sudden death" match, everything in the FIFA World Cup depends on it, and every detail in the match is crucial.

The team has been improving in recent matches. The first match might have been average, the second improved, and the third was better than the previous two. We hope to continue this upward trend. No matter who plays tomorrow, they will give their all and do their best for Brazil. Ultimately, the coach decides the lineup, and it is certain that he will choose the most suitable players, and those who play will definitely fight with all their might to advance.

Two weeks ago, Alisson said something like a slogan: "A winning team hates conceding goals." In the last two matches, the team has kept clean sheets. From previously conceding goals in 6 consecutive matches, almost a year of conceding goals, to now potentially matching Ancelotti's record of 3 consecutive clean sheets at the beginning of his tenure, what changes have occurred in the defensive system?

I completely agree with him. Especially for us defenders, of course we want to end the match with a clean sheet. With our current strength and attacking firepower, as long as we don't concede goals, we will be very close to victory and advancement. I also mentioned before that the team is growing, improving, gradually finding better ways to cooperate, and understanding each other better. There are many voices from outside saying that we lack energy, that we are not eager enough to win, that we need to put in more effort. But I think the fighting spirit has always been there. The real change is that we are gradually finding a more suitable way to play.

The coach's adjustments are also crucial. He is an excellent coach who knows how to unleash the potential of the players and gradually shape the team's philosophy and style of play. Tactically, we have made significant improvements. When positioning is more reasonable, the overall play is more compact, and other aspects also improve, every player on the field benefits. The defense is improving, and the midfield is also improving. Alisson has also made crucial saves in recent matches, which also helps the team keep clean sheets.

So, this is the result of multiple factors working together, leading to an improvement in our defense. After the defense improves, the results will naturally also improve. We are very happy about this. Next, we will face increasingly strong opponents, who will test us in the best possible way. Therefore, we must maintain our best form, play at a high level, strive to advance, and try not to concede goals. This is the ideal state we pursue defensively, and if we can achieve this, we will be very close to advancing.

Frankly, I was a bit surprised by the high praise for Japan from outside observers during the group stage, including some foreign coaches and former players who considered them a difficult team to beat. Do you agree with this view, or do you think Japan is overrated? In the past, Japan was not really an opponent that could compete with Brazil, but is this situation likely to happen now? Also, could you please rate Brazil's advantage over Japan with a percentage?

We have great respect for our opponents, and also for our work, our national team, and our history. Therefore, we will approach such matches with the fullest preparation. It is now clear that football as a whole has become more balanced, and the gap between teams is continuously narrowing. We have witnessed this many times in recent years. In recent FIFA World Cups, some traditional powerhouses have lost to teams that were not previously considered top teams. Today's football competition is very intense and balanced. The recent FIFA Club World Cup is also a good example, illustrating that football development has reached a new stage. Whether it's national teams or clubs, even relatively weaker teams have the ability to challenge stronger teams.

Therefore, we will never underestimate Japan, they have proven their strength with their performance. In the group stage, they played at a high level against strong teams. In recent years, they have played against many strong teams and achieved good results. As for the percentage you mentioned, it's difficult to quantify. Perhaps when they arrived at this FIFA World Cup, their confidence was even higher than ours, because we have experienced some fluctuations on and off the field in recent years.

However, through our efforts and dedication, we have gradually improved the overall atmosphere and boosted our confidence, both within the team and among fans and media. We are different now compared to when we first arrived at this FIFA World Cup. But we still have great respect for our opponents. As for the specific percentage of advantage, I think it's more appropriate for you to analyze and judge.

We have been at this FIFA World Cup for almost a month, never underestimating any opponent, and always remaining grounded. In the last FIFA World Cup, we were eliminated by Croatia, and many people thought we were stronger. In the recent FIFA Club World Cup, my team Paris Saint-Germain lost to Botafogo, and at that time, external opinion also considered Paris to have a clear advantage. But football is like that, everything must be proven on the field. We will continue to work hard, do what we need to do, play a high-level match, and prove with our performance that we are stronger and that we are capable of advancing to the next stage.

This is your third FIFA World Cup. I want to ask you, compared to the previous two FIFA World Cups you participated in, what differences do you see in this Brazil team? From an outside perspective, we see what you just mentioned about the team's continuous growth during the tournament, and the connection and resonance built between the team and the fans. What changes have you personally felt?

That's right. I think the most important thing to emphasize is the energy brought by the fans. In these three FIFA World Cups I've participated in, this one is where we most palpably feel the support of the fans. Wherever we go, we can see the different impact the fans have on us. During matches, they fill the stadium, which is very important for us.

Perhaps in previous FIFA World Cups, we arrived at the tournament already among the favorites, and our form at the time was better than at the start of this FIFA World Cup. This is also a difference. But we also understand that in a tournament, it's not necessarily about starting in the best form, but about continuously improving and finishing well. That's exactly what we want to do, and that's the process we hope to show in this FIFA World Cup. Maybe we didn't arrive here in the best form, but we have been improving. Now our confidence is growing stronger, and our form is getting better. We hope to play an excellent match tomorrow. We know the road ahead is difficult and needs to be taken one step at a time. The most important thing now is to focus on tomorrow's match and play it well. At the same time, we must continue to maintain the humility we had when we arrived at the FIFA World Cup, believe in our efforts, and believe in our potential, showing on the field our determination to move forward and advance to the next stage.

You just mentioned that the Brazil team experienced some difficulties before coming to the FIFA World Cup, but from our limited contact with the team, it feels like the overall atmosphere is quite relaxed and positive now, and the team members get along well. We also saw you joking during training. I don't know if this is a change brought by Ancelotti, or your own adjustments. For example, Rayan, who started against Scotland at 19, also seemed very calm. What do you think of this situation? First, do you agree with our observation? Second, in this knockout stage where mistakes cannot be made, will this state become an advantage, allowing you to be more composed and not overly nervous due to potential errors?

This is a good question. I agree with your observation. I think, although we have experienced a lot over the past few years, being able to come to the FIFA World Cup in this state is largely thanks to the coach and management team. They have done an excellent job providing us with the best conditions and environment, allowing us to enter matches in good form. We are very grateful for this.

With their experience, we have adjusted our thinking and philosophy, making our mental and physical state more stable, and bringing this state into the matches. The results of recent matches have continuously reinforced this. We are always in the football environment and are well aware of the importance of results. When we are in better form and perform better, everything becomes smoother.

I also agree with you that this could indeed become an advantage for us. In such a decisive knockout match, a single-elimination game, mental factors are very crucial. However, it cannot simply be called "relaxed," because being too relaxed might allow the opponent to seize opportunities. But what is certain is that we will enter the match in good condition, full of confidence, and prepared to deal with all situations. So I think, when both mental and physical states are at a good level, and we are clear about our own strength, and at the same time have a coach with excellent tactical ability preparing us, if you add a good team atmosphere and a stable mindset, all of these will be important factors for us to play well.

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