Brazil's Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho are expected to resume the three-pronged striking machine which has brought 11 goals and only three conceded in a trio of first round victories.

Brazil v Belgium

Kobe, today, 12.30

For Belgium, without a shining star, Marc Wilmots will lead the way for a team which scrambled a last-gasp victory over Russia to scrape through to the second round in Group D.

The really telling statistic, however, shows Belgium have made 126 tackles so far in this World Cup, 67 of which have been fouls. Which suggests that if Brazil are to set up the first competitive match with England for 32 years they will have to survive a physical battle to do so. It is goals, however, which are the real Brazilian currency and ominously Ronald has already struck four, one more than 33-year-old Wilmots.

With Roberto Carlos flying up the flank and the intelligent Denilson pulling the strings with Rivaldo in midfield it is hardly surprising Brazil are the new favourites to win the tournament after the demise of France and Argentina.

Carlos, however, is dismissing all the hype which surrounds a country with a World Cup history which includes four trophy-winning tournaments in 1958, 1962, 1970 and 1994. "The World Cup is about winning the final," he said. "So far the tournament has only just started."

And goalkeeper Marcos, playing in his first finals following the retirement of Claudio Taffarel, added: "We have to go about being favourites in the right, positive way. We can't lose our concentration because of the attention."

"We have started to think about England already because that will be our next match," said the forward Edilson. Provided they do not slip up today, Brazil will face England in Shizuoka on Friday with the English having had the advantage of 48 hours extra preparation time after beating Denmark 3-0 on Saturday.

Juninho, the only member of the Brazilian squad with experience of playing in England, said his compatriots were bracing themselves for a tough encounter with Sven-Goran Eriksson's men. "We have been playing better and better with each match here. It is not just the way we are playing, we have become mentally stronger too," said the former Middlesbrough midfielder.

Japan v Turkey

Miyagi, Tuesday, 7.30

Japan defender Naoki Matsuda has promised the Japanese fans their World Cup adventure has just begun as they prepare for the biggest game in the country's history.

Matsuda insists they are not settling for just qualifying from the group phase for the first time when they face Turkey on Monday. "Although I am relieved that we achieved our initial goal, our real challenge starts here," he said. "I think we have chances to win more games, so we will do our best not to waste those chances."

Japan came into the World Cup having lost all three games at their only previous finals at France '98. But they picked up their first point in the opening game against Belgium and then their first victory in the next match with Russia.

By the time they beat Tunisia last Friday to progress as Group H winners, the country was riding high on a wave of euphoria.

With the victors of Monday's tie in Miyagi facing Senegal in the last eight, Japan have a genuine chance to make the semi-finals - an unthinkable achievement before the World Cup started 17 days ago.

And midfielder Tomakazu Myojin admitted the prospect of that can be frightening. "I am very excited about us getting this far, and the country being so excited, even if it is a little scary," he said. "But now that we are in the second phase I have a feeling of satisfaction, but also of excitement at the challenges which lie ahead."

Turkey are wrapping their star players in cotton wool ahead tomorrow's game. The Turks have a clutch of key players who are carrying slight injuries picked up in the 3-0 win over China.

Striker Hakan Sukur, goalkeeper Rustu Recber, winger Hasan Sas, midfielder Unit Davala and striker Nihat Kahveci are all nursing knocks and only took part in light training yesterday.

Training sessions were closed to the media yesterday but coach Senol Gunes is expected to hold a press conference this morning and a final training session afterwards will be Turkey's last before the match against the Japanese.