Former Japan international Keisuke Honda discussed the pre-match comments made by Japan international Kento Shiogai about Brazil during a live broadcast.

Related reading: 【Shiogai: I Believe Brazil Is a Completely Beatable Opponent; They're Not What They Used to Be】

Keisuke Honda said: "I just heard about this, about the controversy surrounding Shiogai's comments, right?

I think this issue can be viewed from two levels: First, can this statement increase Japan's chances of winning even by 1%? Second, what I actually think about the comments themselves.

Let's discuss the first point. I feel it's unlikely this matter will develop in a favorable direction for us.

The opponent will probably see this statement as a provocation, which will ignite a stronger fighting spirit, and they will approach the match with a humble yet determined mindset. On the other hand, if the opponent underestimates us, that would be absolutely advantageous for us. So from a tactical perspective, this statement actually does more harm than good.

But looking at the comments themselves, I think it's completely reasonable. This is supposed to be entertainment for the match, and it's others' freedom how they promote it.

Objectively speaking, no matter how angry Brazilian fans are, and regardless of whether they are football enthusiasts or not, everyone has to admit that there are actually fewer famous and renowned Brazilian legendary players now than there were before.

The only Brazilian players I can clearly recall are Vinicius Jr., and of course Casemiro counts as one, but Neymar is unlikely to start in this match anyway.

While Brazil's overall team strength remains world-class, I think it's fair if someone directly comments that Brazil's current level has declined compared to their peak. This is not underestimating the opponent; it's completely different.

Especially given Kento Shiogai's personality, he didn't say these things to deliberately offend the opponent; he simply stood by his own convictions and maintained his own attitude.

People criticize him, and to put it harshly, it's like sternly reprimanding a naive young player over a trivial matter.

But this straightforwardness is precisely Shiogai's strength. There's no need to let him get too caught up in worldly social dynamics. This confidence is also the source of his self-assurance.

Instead, he should maintain this purity when playing football. I believe football is about how far you can go with pure courage and determination.

Personally, I don't care if the comments cause public controversy; I'm simply thinking from the perspective of player development: players must maintain their edge, move forward, and not let their sharpness be dulled by external criticism.

Those adults who are well-versed in social relations don't need to forcibly instill worldly rules into young players. More importantly, they should quietly protect and allow young players who dare to fight to grow freely.

Of course, I also understand that getting along with teammates, dealing with people, and communication etiquette are truly very important, but such rules are sufficient for internal team communication and adjustment. As for external statements, young players can express themselves boldly."

Traducido por IA.

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