Japan coach to call the shots if Brazil clash goes to penalties
· Yahoo Sports
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu has bad memories of a penalty shoot-out in a World Cup knock-out stage and will take more care if Monday's last-32 clash with record winners Brazil goes the distance too.
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When Japan went out in the round of 16 in 2022 against Croatia, the team decided who would take the spot-kicks but only one Japanese player scored.
But if Monday's match against five-times winners Brazil in Houston again goes to a shoot-out, "I will make the decision," the 57-year-old said.
Japan beat Brazil 3-2 in a friendly in Tokyo last year.
"It will be a tough game," Moriyasu said. "But we will challenge them and try to win."
Japan qualified for the knock-outs in North America after a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, a 4-0 win over Tunisia and a 1-1 draw with Sweden to finish second in Group F.