Japan international Yuto Nagatomo talks about Brazil: Compared with the past, the Selecao back then were completely unable to compete.

Japanese national team veteran and 39-year-old defender Nagatomo Yuto (currently playing for FC Tokyo) frankly shared his views on the powerful rival Brazil team in an interview. He said that although Brazil is still the world's top team, in the era he personally played against, the Brazilian team with Marcelo, Alves and Neymar may be the real "strongest version".

"Brazil back then was in another dimension"

During a public training session in Chiba Prefecture on October 12, Nagatomo Yuto reviewed the 2022 game in which the Japanese team lost 0-1 to Brazil. At that time, he started the game as a right back. Now he faced the Selecao again after three years. He said frankly:

"Brazil is undoubtedly the top team in the world. There is no doubt about it. But as far as my personal experience is concerned, I feel that the Brazilian team I faced in the past may be stronger than the current one."

He specifically mentioned the golden generation of Brazil that he had played against: "Like Atletico Madrid. Cello, Alves, Neymar... when they are all here, it is really difficult for us to compete. Whether it is physical fitness, technical level, game judgment, or the speed of offense and defense transition, the overall strength is completely another dimension."

After Ancelotti took office, Brazil is getting better.

The current Brazilian team was struggling in the South American preliminaries and ranked low. However, in May this year, after the famous coach Carlo Ancelotti, who had led the team to win the Champions League, took over, the team's condition gradually recovered, and finally qualified for the 2026 World Cup as a thrilling fifth place in the qualifiers.

Nagatomo wants to face strong opponents as a "wing-back"

Although he is 39 years old, Nagatomo is still eager to appear in the game against Brazil. He said that he hopes to contribute to the team's defense as a wing-back:

"When the opponent has a top breakthrough player and speedy player like Vinicius, how to defend well in the wing-back position is my advantage. I will go all out to adjust my state and performance and strive to be selected by the coach. I am not worried about it."

The defeat three years ago is still vivid in his mind, and now Yuto Nagatomo has a burning fire of revenge in his heart. He is eager to use practical actions to prove his progress with the Japanese team in this highly anticipated friendly match.