U.S. takes on Brazil in another tough task
First it was world champion Italy.
Now it’s the $94-million man.
Things don’t get any easier for the U.S. team at soccer’s Confederations Cup in South Africa today, what with the Brazilians lining up to take shots at the Americans in Pretoria.
And shoot they will.
With an attacking force that includes playmaker Kaka, bought by Real Madrid from AC Milan last week for $94 million, and striker Robinho, bought by Manchester City from Real Madrid in September for $50 million, Brazil’s firepower is fearsome.
Add forwards Alexandre Pato of AC Milan, Luis Fabiano of Seville and Nilmar of Internacional into the offensive mix, and the U.S could be pinned back in its own half all game.
“We know their talent,” U.S. Coach Bob Bradley said at a news conference in Pretoria on Wednesday, noting that his team had played and lost to a Ronaldinho-inspired Brazil, 4-2, in a friendly in Chicago in 2007.
Ronaldinho did not make Brazil’s roster for this eight-nation 2010 World Cup warmup tournament, but, if anything, Coach Dunga’s squad is stronger.
Bradley, whose team was beaten by Italy, 3-1, on Monday, talked about “the incredible movement” of Robinho and Kaka and how Brazil features so many “players who are mobile, creative and very dangerous.”
How the U.S. responds will determine whether it will still be alive in the tournament when it plays Egypt on Sunday or whether it will be two games and out for the Americans.
“When you get on the field, the ability to react quickly and deal with the talent of Robinho and Kaka in some of these situations is critical,” Bradley said. “Their ability to come very deep and help their team defend and, when the ball is won, to take it from their own end and go on 40-, 60-, 80-yard runs is incredible.
“Our ability to organize is crucial. We have to attack, but in a way that is intelligent so that when the ball turns over we can react quickly.”
Egypt showed the way.
The Egyptians, champions of Africa, threw a huge scare into the Brazilians on Monday, coming from 3-1 down at halftime to tie the score, 3-3, before losing on a last-minute penalty kick by Kaka, his second goal of the game.
“Egypt did an incredible amount of hard running in that game,” Bradley said. “They weren’t afraid in the right moments to pressure Brazil, and if Brazil beat the pressure, they ran very hard to recover and get back and take care of things.
“When you play Brazil, you have to be able to attack them as well.”
Just how well the U.S. can do that is problematic.
Despite leaking goals to Egypt at a time when the players still were recovering from jet lag, Brazil has a strong defense, anchored by Julio Cesar, regarded by many as the world’s top goalkeeper along with Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon.
“Brazil is a team that likes to attack,” Bradley said. “But don’t be fooled -- they defend well. They still do a good job of closing people down and apply pressure. They had a let-up in the second half [against Egypt], whether that is due to fatigue from having arrived late is possible.”
On Wednesday, European champion Spain became the first to secure a place in the semifinals when it defeated Iraq, 1-0, on a goal by David Villa after earlier beating New Zealand, 5-0.
South Africa also revived its semifinal hopes with a 2-0 win over New Zealand, both goals coming from Bernard Parker.
The U.S.-Brazil game (6:30 a.m. PDT, ESPN2 and TeleFutura) will be followed at 11:30 a.m. by Italy-Egypt.
Jones reported from Los Angeles
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