Dortmund: Brazil expects an easier time in its last Group F match on Thursday, facing a Japan side that will have to come out attacking in order to stay alive at the WorldCup.
Brazil has already secured a second-round berth, but Japan needs a victory in the match in Dortmund.
"Japan's obligation to win could make this game favorable to us," Brazil defender Roberto Carlos said on Wednesday.
"We haven't been able to play our soccer because the opponents only think about marking and defending us, like Australia and Croatia did. If Japan comes out attacking, it could be our best game."
Japan has to beat the defending champions and hope Australia fails to defeat Croatia in the other Group F match on Thursday.
The Japanese lost 3-1 to Australia in its opener, then drew Croatia 0-0.
Brazil, seeking a record sixth world title, leads the group with six points, three more than Australia and five more than Japan and Croatia.
The top two teams advance.
"If they do (come attacking), we will have more spaces," two-time FIFAWorld Player of the Year Ronaldinho said.
"It will make the match more interesting."
Despite two wins, Brazil has failed to impress and been heavily criticized. Ronaldinho and the rest of Brazil's "magic quartet" were kept in check and didn't create many scoring opportunities.
"It's evident that we need to perform better, including Ronaldinho," Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said.
"The team as a whole needs to improve, and that's what we expect."
Parreira said he doesn't foresee an easy match against Japan - a team coached by former Brazilian great Zico.
"It's a team that should give us a hard time because of its tactical application," Parreira said.
"Especially because of their velocity. We will need to be careful."
Parreira could field reserve players in Thursday's match to give some starters a rest ahead of the next round.
He did not indicate who might be left out.
A draw against Japan will secure Brazil a first-place finish in the group. It would then face the second-place team in Group E, which includes Italy, the United States, Ghana and the Czech Republic.
Brazil is unbeaten against Japan in seven matches. It has five wins and two draws, including a 2-2 result in the Confederations Cup in Germany last year.
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