What does the USA need to do to beat Brazil in the confederations cup final on Sunday?

Comment

Comment by DominicT on July 23, 2009 at 1:39am

The US team will need to put every trick in the book to use, if they are to win against teams like Brazil.

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Comment by John Barata on June 29, 2009 at 7:22pm

Very nice Apostoli!!!

Comment by Apostoli on June 29, 2009 at 10:14am

they should have cut the brake lines

Comment by David Caetano on June 28, 2009 at 5:45am

If Donavon can continue to lead by motivating and setting an example for the 3rd game in a row we have a good chance.
If he played for one of the top teams in Europe he would be one of the best in the world and would give a ton of credibility to the US team. The 80´s and before this type of player (small-skilled) was normally not selected (tide started to change when Tab Ramos started). I am in Portugal and lots of skepticism from the press concerning the US. Although, former US pro coach-player, Benfica and 66 world cup great, Antonio Simoes wrote a column supporting the ability and credibility of US performance alerting all they should think of the US team in a different way.
When I watched the USA-Spain it seemed the TV reporters many times were watching different game.

Comment by Robert Woodard on June 27, 2009 at 11:32pm

You can't expect to beat teams like Brazil or Spain at their game which is holding the ball for long periods of time. The US showed how it could be done against Spain. Keeping pressure on the ball in the defensive third made Spain predictable. Lots of long harmless shots and contested crosses. As good as it was there was stil room for improvement. Donovan and Dempsey did a much better than normal job of holding down deep lying defensive positions on the wings and counterattacking.

Take scoring opportunities, get shots on frame and followup.

The key will be how the ref calls the game if it stays close. Watch carefully because once frustrated, Brazil will manufacture fouls as they did in the first game dribbling by defenders, initiating contact and dropping. If they have to play straight up advantage USA. If they can manipulate the ref into giving a rash of free kicks, it can end up as the semifinal did.

A score for the US is great, not losing by two or more better, going into OT supurb, and winning in anyway shape or form priceless.

Comment by Nascent Dynamics ( ) on June 27, 2009 at 3:19pm

I agree with the attention to pattern. I expect Brazil to challenge the center early on, and then to move toward flanking attacks which will likely lead to crosses, set plays, and maybe even penalties. I think we should start with a stiff defense extending all the way to the midfield line, and play the offside trap smartly. Two men closing in on corner flankers.

However, once the expected rythm is established, I think the U.S. should surprise the Brazilians with a counter-intuitive rythm of attack. What I mean to say is start of showing that you are trying to cover all bases on defense, and then change your rythm to extend yourself into attacks. I thought the decisive aspect of the U.S. win against Spain was all the early shots on goal we managed. I think we need to strive for that same type of pressure until we score two or three goals first. Maybe we would have done that against Spain until we scored, and were fortunate enough to be able to drop the pressure after the early scores. With Brazil, not only do you need to cut the brakes, I think you need to keep the gas on. Check the ProZone stats on the U.S. victory against Spain and we were outclassed in every category except the win.

We should probably look to beat Brazil in those statistical areas, and play for fun. We've already won. If you sit back on Brazil hoping to keep it close, or try to be too technical, you lose. Go for the glory.

Anthony

Comment by Kamal de Gregory on June 27, 2009 at 1:31pm

That's an unfair question, because you cannot go back in time 2 years ago to start the process to win tomorrow.

In the short term, Tim Howard should trust and risk because he needs to be proactive 15 yards in. He will not be able to get back if he makes a mistake though, so big pressure.

Defense don't fall into Brazil's rhythm because they will change the beat. Follow your leader in the back not the 7 cunning Brazilians headed straight for you.

Offense, it will be a bread crumb that means the difference, just like last game. Stay Aware.

Comment by Ian Knight on June 27, 2009 at 12:34pm

If they have it in them, USA have to produce the same disciplined, counter-attacking game which they gave, so superbly, against the Spanish.

Comment by Apostoli on June 27, 2009 at 12:22pm

cut the brake lines on the bus.