The 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup kicks off in Brasilia on Saturday night, with host nations Brazil entertaining Asian champions Japan. The match, to be played at the Estadio Nacional in the country's capital, is a Group A fixture. Italy and Mexico are the other sides in the group. Spain, Tahiti, Uruguay and Nigeria are the other sides involved in the tournament and are in Group B.

Paulinho
Reuters

Where to Watch Live

Kick-off is set for 8pm BST. Live coverage will be on BBC Three. Catch highlights of the game on Match of the Day, on BBC One and BBC One HD at 10.30pm BST.

Overview

Brazil will kick off in front of demanding home fans after a comfortable 3-0 win over fellow former World Cup champions France in an international friendly. Chelsea midfielder Oscar opened the scoring in the second half, Lazio's Hernanes doubled the lead and Paris St Germain (PSG) attacker Lucas Moura completed the rout from the penalty spot.

The win was only the Seleção's second since the start of 2013; the other was a 4-0 defeat of Bolivia, also in a friendly match. Other results this calendar year include draws against Italy, Chile and England in March, April and earlier this month.

Brazil have played England twice this year, losing 2-1 at Wembley before forcing a draw at the newly renovated Maracana. The former world champions may be unbeaten since that defeat at Wembley but Luiz Felipe Scolari, in his second stint at the helm of the national team, will know the performances have not been as impressive as they ought to be, given the talent he has at his disposal.

Brazilian fans tend to be passionate and very demanding and with home field advantage, they will expect their stars to shine.

Meanwhile, Japan make it to South America by virtue of winning the AFC Asian Cup in 2011. The Asian powerhouse beat Australia 1-0 in the final but may count themselves a trifle unlucky after having drawn Brazil, Italy and Mexico in their group.

Managed by former Inter, AC Milan and Juventus coach Alberto Zaccheroni, the Japanese come into this fixture on the back of a narrow 1-0 win over Iraq in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier earlier this month. Stuttgart striker Shinji Okazaki scored late in the game to qualify for the competition next year.

The Japanese have lost only once in the last five games - a 2-0 friendly defeat to Bulgaria.

Shinji Okazaki
Reuters

Team Form

Brazil

  • Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): W D D W D
  • Last Result: Brazil 3 - 0 France

Japan

  • Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): W D L W W
  • Last Result: Iraq 0 - 1 Japan
Neymar
Reuters

Team News

Scolari is likely to field an attacking line-up, with Oscar, Hulk and Barcelona's latest signing Neymar likely to play behind Fred. David Luiz will pair up with PSG's Thiago Silva in the heart of the side's defence.

Probable Line-Up: Julio Cesar; Alves, David Luiz, Thiago Silva, Marcelo; Paulinho, Luiz Gustavo; Hulk, Oscar, Neymar; Fred

Japan have been handed a major boost after news midfielder Keisuke Honda and full-back Yuto Nagatomo are likely to feature. The duo were thought to be ruled out after picking up knocks.

Probable Line-Up: Kawashima; Uchida, Yoshida, Konno, Nagatomo; Endo, Hasebe; Okazaki, Honda, Kagawa; Maeda

Iraq Japan Mexico Australia