Aguirre plotting more misery for Brazil

SINGAPORE — Javier Aguirre may not think the aura of Brazil’s famed national football side has disappeared after their shock 7-1 mauling by eventual champions Germany at the World Cup, but the Japan coach certainly wants to contribute to that view.

Brazil and Japan meet at the National Stadium next Tuesday in a match that is likely to be a friendly only on paper, given what is at stake for both sides.

The South American giants are looking to rebuild their reputation and restore confidence after their humiliating loss to the Germans in Belo Horizonte — regarded as one of the biggest shocks in sport — which led many to suggest they are no longer one of the world’s top sides.

Meanwhile, Aguirre is hoping another shock result over Brazil will help Japan’s national side, after a dismal group stage exit at the World Cup, bounce back as they prepare to defend their crown at next year’s Asian Cup in Australia. However, in an e-mail interview ahead of the clash in Singapore, Aguirre told TODAY a wounded Brazil are even more dangerous opponents.

“The game against Brazil will be a very tough and difficult game, because Brazil is a top-three team in the world, equal with teams like Germany, Argentina and Italy,” said the 55-year-old former Mexico international, who watched Brazil’s 1-0 wins over Colombia and Ecuador last month.

“If you cannot play with your focus set, you will be embarrassed. I’ll make sure our players understand that and, based on that understanding, we will have to take good action.

“Brazil run very hard and do their work even when they don’t have the ball with them. And they have the expectation that everyone on the team — whether you are a big name or not — has to do that.”

The odds are against Aguirre’s side. Japan have never beaten Brazil in 10 previous meetings at senior level, drawing just twice. They last met at last year’s FIFA Confederations Cup in Brasilia, with Brazil winning 3-0.

Aguirre, who replaced Italian Alberto Zaccheroni in July, named a 23-man squad that includes AC Milan’s Keisuke Honda, Eiji Kawashima (Standard Liege), Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan), Hajime Hosogai (Hertha Berlin) and Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund), and uncapped players in defenders Gen Shoji (Kashima Antlers) and Tsukasa Shiotani (Sanfreece Hiroshima), and forward Yu Kobayashi (Kawasaki Frontale).

Dunga, in his second spell as Brazil coach, has included attacking options such as Oscar, Philippe Coutinho and Barcelona star Neymar in his side. Playmaker Kaka, left out of Brazil’s 2014 World Cup squad by Luiz Felipe Scolari, was also recalled for the friendlies against Japan and Argentina, whom Brazil face this Saturday in Beijing.

But Aguirre, who is seeking his first win as Japan coach after a 2-0 loss to Uruguay and 2-2 draw against Venezuela in September, said: “You should have good defence not to let Brazil take the lead and perform effective and decisive play.

“When you have a scoring opportunity, you’ve got to convert it. If Japan are in very good shape and Brazil are so-so, then we can beat them.”

Tickets are available from the Singapore Indoor Stadium box office, SingPost outlets, online at www.sportshubtix.sg, and phone (63335000/31587888).