It may not be a competitive fixture, but the Americans will be looking to build on their good form against Brazil
It's Brazil, but it's 2012, not 2014. (And unfortunately it's not 2013 or the Confederations Cup, but why dwell.)
The Yanks welcome the international heavweight Brazil Canaries to FedExField in Landover, Maryland on Wednesday.
The US side is beaming, coming off an absolute lambasting of the Scots in Jacksonville. Keeping with Stanley Cup time, the US lit the lamp five times "en-route" to a 5-1 victory. How will it perform against a vastly more offensively talented opponent?
Weather forecast
Showers in the AM, fluffy bunny dusters in the sky and 75 degrees by game time. Unlike the Scots, the Brazilians are altogether fine with warm weather.
Scotland Redress
Michael Bradley twas not always so. Bradley just went hockey stick in his development this year. Watching a review of Bradley's club and national performance up until this year, Bradley's two notorious challenges were looking for the "glory tackle" on defense and making a negative pass in the face of pressure. Bradley has addressed both issues and added a left-foot. Astounding.
The combining factors to make this happen: 1) Playing time 2) Playing time in a technical league and 3) Removing the comfort factor at the national team level.
Kudos to Bradley Jr who will shortly be a father I might add. If Bradley has a son who eventually plays on the national team do we call him "Junior Junior"?
More kudos to Jürgen Klinsmann. Pundits cited the lack of a "Jogi Low" on staff to enable creative tactical adjustments. The opposite has been true. Consider that Klinsmann played effectively a 4-4-2 unbalanced formation up until this camp (something US fans and media had not seen previously in major display – though Bob Bradley did try it) and that his Christmas tree formation against Scotland was attacking in nature (the 4-3-2-1 is normally used defensively) and it certainly appears that at the very least Klinsmann is being proactive in his tactics – something that he was not expressly known for previously.
Okay, Klinsy, now how do you slot in Dempsey … and Altidore?
A step back to Brazil
The last meeting was actually Omar Gonzalez's first cap back in August 2010.
The most recent and memorable. The ill-fated 2009 Confederations Cup title match. The US dropped two in the first half and then got upstaged by three Brazilian goals in the second half. The "Fabiano Turn" was Brazil's first goal.
Your starting central midfielders that day? Benny Feilhaber and Ricardo Clark. Charlie Davies started as well.
If you remember, also, the US's second goal was TSG-deemed "The Counterattack Heard 'Round The World."
A step forward for Brazil
That would be Neymar ... or Hulk. Hulk or Neymar?
Jesus Christ or Santa Claus. Does that make Michael Bradley ... Brian Boitano?
Miscellaneous
Landon Donovan surpassed Jeff Agoos for the most starts in US history with his 125th during the 5-1 victory against Scotland on May 26. Agoos had held the previous record of 124 starts. Donovan also holds career records in goals (49), assists (48) and points (146). The only mark where Donovan is not atop the list is in career appearances, as he sits second with 139 caps behind 2011 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee Cobi Jones (164).
US captain Carlos Bocanegra moved into an eighth-place tie with former US MNT goalkeeper Kasey Keller with his 102nd cap. Bocanegra was previously tied for ninth with Earnie Stewart (101). Read More
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