“If they lose, I won’t be sad”: Zico on Brazil v Japan at World Cup | OneFootball

Zico spoke with Coluna do Fla this Saturday (27)

The greatest idol in Flamengo’s history, Zico attended Cardio Fut this Saturday (27), an event organized by Luiz Macedo, the club’s doctor. At the Maracanã, Coluna do Fla’s reporters spoke with the eternal No. 10, who commented on expectations for the match between Brazil and Japan in the second round of the World Cup.

— It’s Brazil. Do you want anything worse than being Japan’s coach against Brazil? I’ve been on both sides, so if Brazil win, great, because I’m Brazilian. If they lose, I won’t be sad either, because Japanese football has a little bit of the Coimbra family in it -, Zico began.

— Those guys are flying right now. So the Brazilian National Team has to stay alert; they won’t be facing a team that will panic if they concede a goal. Japan are causing all kinds of problems these days -, he concluded during the event.

What are Zico’s expectations for Neymar with the Brazilian National Team?

In addition, Zico analyzed Neymar’s debut at the 2026 World Cup. The Flamengo idol said the Brazilian No. 10’s physical condition is the main factor in determining whether the attacking midfielder can continue on the pitch.

— It depends on how he is physically. Like it was said, as long as he’s physically well. That’s the big problem. The main issue isn’t the uncertainty of whether he’ll be called up or not. When the call-up period ended, he played a few matches, but as soon as he started being pushed more, he felt the injury –, said Flamengo’s historic idol.

— He has just returned now, and we need to know how he really is. In any case, I believe there wouldn’t be a better opportunity to return than in a game against a team like the one we faced, which proved to be much weaker. He moved well on the field, and that can be excellent for him to regain confidence, realize that he is truly recovered, and show that he can be useful later on -, Zico concluded.

What is the importance of Cardio Fut?

CardioFut is a multidisciplinary event created by Luiz Macedo, Flamengo’s doctor, bringing together professionals from areas such as cardiology, physiotherapy, nutrition, and technology. Zico emphasized the importance of the organization for Brazilian football.

— I think it’s essential that we have this. I was here last year as well, and it’s great for us to be able to share experiences. Especially for me, since I lost a brother because of a heart problem after a football match -, he said, before finishing:

— So anything that can be done to prevent it, to stay alert to the signs, and to guide people who play sports today is always very valuable. So I see that the football community has helped a lot, and that has been important for providing the necessary information -, he added, speaking to Coluna do Fla journalist Rock Hudson.

When do Brazil and Japan face each other?

With Neymar available, the match between Brazil and Japan takes place this Monday (29), in the Round of 32 of the World Cup. The ball starts rolling at 2 p.m. Brasília time, at NGR Stadium, in Houston.

As tradition dictates, Coluna do Fla will bring all the details of the match between Brazil and Japan through the website, YouTube and on social media. However, Globo (free-to-air TV), SBT (free-to-air TV), SporTV (pay TV channel), and CazéTV (YouTube) will broadcast the match.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.