Japan - Brazil

Brazil have flown to Singapore with a heavily rotated squad that carries a handful of uncapped players, several of whom could make a debut in this one. A number of regulars were left at home, one of the forwards is injured, and one of the wide men has only just come back from a muscle problem, with reports in Brazil suggesting his minutes will be spread across the two games on this trip. Ancelotti is using the window to look at people rather than to field a first choice eleven. Japan are coming at it from the other direction. They have named a near full strength group despite a couple of injuries, they are unbeaten in their last four and they have lost only one of their last fifteen internationals. They also have the receipts. Japan beat Brazil 3-2 just over a year ago, and when the two met at the World Cup in June it took a goal deep into stoppage time for Brazil to escape with a 2-1 win. A neutral venue in Asia strips out any home comfort Brazil might have claimed, and a friendly in the middle of a long European season rarely brings the intensity needed to put a disciplined, well drilled Japan side away. The half ball matters here because the draw is a very live result and it pays in full. For a Brazil side this patched up, the price on the hosts plus the hook looks generous.