Japan look to turn tables on mentors Brazil

Brazil represent much ​more than just another opponent given the overwhelming Brazilian influence on professional football in Japan.

Japan's midfielder Takefusa Kubo and Brazil's forward  Vinicius Junior  (Photo by Karl MONDON and Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP via Getty Images)

Hajime Moriyasu's quest to lead Japan deep into the World Cup faces a master-versus-apprentice last-32 clash ​Monday against Brazil, the country that has done more than any other to shape the game in the four-times ‌Asian Cup-winning nation.

The Japanese squad travelled to North America with ambitions of a run to a first-ever final and the high-profile scalps of Germany, Spain and England over the last four years have added weight to the argument that the Samurai Blue could excel.