Confederations Cup
Teams: Brazil v Japan
Date: 15 June 2013
Venue: Estadio Nacional
Brazil open their defence of the Confederations Cup when they take on a vastly improving Japan side on Saturday in the first game of the 2013 edition of the tournament in Brazil.
The Selecao, on home soil, will be looking to complete a straight hat-trick in the tournament, having lifted the trophy in South Africa back in 2009, as well as winning the previous tournament in 2005.
The tournament also provides coach Luiz Felipe Scolari a chance to win over the fans after a far from emphatic start to his most recent spell in charge of the national team.
A recent 3-0 drubbing of France lightened the mood after the South Americans played out consecutive stalemates with England and Chile.
Japan, on the other hand, have become a formidable side with a number of top talents in the squad. The Samurai Blue will be looking to the likes of Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow), Inter Milan's Yuto Nagatomo and Manchester United's Shinji Kagawa for spark in attack.
The Japanese booked their spot in the tournament by winning the Asian Cup back in 2011, and are making their fourth appearance at the event.
The two teams clashed in a friendly back in October 2012 where Brazil were in control and strolled to a 4-0 win.
However, Brazil have not beaten Japan in the Confederations Cup, with their meeting in 2001 ending 0-0 before playing out a 2-2 draw in 2005.
