Marquinhos fires back at 'arrogant' Japan star's Neymar jibe
Brazil captain Marquinhos has hit back at Kento Shiogai's comments regarding Neymar and the Selecao, using the criticism as fuel for their World Cup clash.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: YantsImages
The tension ahead of the World Cup round of 32 clash between Brazil and Japan has escalated following controversial remarks from Japan forward Kento Shiogai. The Wolfsburg striker publicly questioned the current level of Neymar and suggested that the Selecao no longer command the same fear factor as in previous eras.
Brazil captain Marquinhos addressed the comments directly in an interview with Caze TV, labeling the remarks as a sign of arrogance. The defender emphasized that the squad is using the external noise as a source of extra motivation for the knockout stage.
It's a fact that football today is very balanced. It's about having intelligence, wisdom, maybe it was a bit of arrogance on their part. Brazil continues to be a great team. We leave that talk to the opponents, let them keep talking a lot to motivate us. Marquinhos
This match at NRG Stadium in Houston marks the first time these two nations have met in a World Cup knockout fixture. After a slow start to the tournament, including a draw against Morocco, Carlo Ancelotti's side has found momentum with back-to-back 3-0 victories over Haiti and Scotland.
The match holds additional weight given Brazil's recent history against the Blue Samurai. In a friendly encounter last October in Tokyo, Brazil squandered a first-half lead, allowing Japan to complete a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory. The Selecao will be looking to rectify that result and secure their path to the next round.