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Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
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Fearless US braced for Brazil showdown
Source: Agencies |
June 27, 2009, Saturday
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Online Edition
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The United States are one victory away from claiming a major FIFA competition for the first time if they can produce another shock against Brazil when the Confederations Cup competition reaches its climax tomorrow.
Skipper Carlos Bocanegra, whose side were beaten 3-0 by Brazil in their Group A encounter on June 18, insists the US will play without fear against their heavily favored opponents and adopt an entirely different strategy for this match.
Unlike the US, Brazil know all about winning major trophies, crowned world champions five times and seeking a third Confederations Cup victory in attempting to retain the trophy they won in 2005.
"The first time we played Brazil we came out a bit timid," Bocanegra said at a news briefing yesterday. "We gave them too much respect.
"We went out and sat back too much, but we changed it against Egypt, playing with a lot of energy from the start and we carried that into the Spain game. We had a go at them for 90 minutes rather than absorb pressure."
The US beat Egypt 3-0 to secure a surprise semi-final berth and then secured an even more unlikely place in the final with a stunning 2-0 win over Spain, who suffered their first international defeat for nearly three years and 36 matches.
Now Brazil stand in the way of the US scoring what would be a truly historic upset with coach Bob Bradley hinting his side would play another direct, physical game against a higher-ranked opponent.
"It is very important for us to win," he said, explaining how it would help their seeding for the World Cup finals draw being held later this year.
"In our history, the US national team have had some important and very good victories but we have never won a major competition.
"We have won the CONCACAF Gold Cup and that is the reason we are here. Every team wants the chance to play in a final and we are looking forward to it. It would be incredible for us if we won it."
IMPRESSIVE CLINT
Bradley will not be able to choose son Michael for the game, however, after he was sent off towards the end of the semi-final victory.
But he will have the impressive Clint Dempsey in attack and the Fulham forward will be looking to complete an excellent tournament with a winner's medal.
Dempsey has scored twice, including the second against Spain, and was praised by FIFA Technical Study member Holger Osieck for "winning nearly every ball in the air, keeping possession and working hard" in their 3-0 win over Egypt.
Osieck also praised his "tireless" performance against Spain in which besides his goal, he helped set up the first for Jozy Altidore.
Despite the north Americans enthusiasm and new-found sense of belief, Brazil still start as overwhelming favorites.
Although the South Americans know they cannot allow themselves to be out-thought as they were for long periods against South Africa in their semi-final on Thursday, or they might struggle to win with the flourish the world loves to see.
A Daniel Alves free-kick two minutes from time secured their slender 1-0 win over the hosts and midfielder Gilberto Silva says they will be taking nothing for granted.
"I was not shocked by the US victory," he told reporters after the South Africa game.
"Spain did not do their job in a proper way, and if you do not do that you are not going to win. We respected our opponents and worked hard for the victory. We will do the same on Sunday."
Forward Robinho added: "If the United States are in the final, you cannot say they are lucky. They have improved and it is going to be very hard against them, but I think we will win."
Brazil and the US have met 15 times in the past with Brazil winning 14 matches and the US once.
Tomorrow's final starts at 2030 (1830 GMT) at Ellis Park, with the third place playoff between Spain and South Africa kicking off at 1500 (1300 GMT) at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.
Probable teams:
Brazil: 1-Julio Cesar; 2-Maicon, 3-Lucio, 14-Luisao, 16-Andre Santos; 5-Felipe Melo, 8-Gilberto Silva, 18-Ramires, 10-Kaka; 9-Luis Fabiano, 11-Robinho
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States: 1-Tim Howard; 21-Jonathan Spector, 15-Jay DeMerit, 5-Oguchi Onyewu, 3-Carlos Bocanegra; 8-Clint Dempsey, 22-Benny Feilhaber, 13-Ricardo Clark, 10-Landon Donovan; 9-Charlie Davies, 17-Jozy Altidore
Skipper Carlos Bocanegra, whose side were beaten 3-0 by Brazil in their Group A encounter on June 18, insists the US will play without fear against their heavily favored opponents and adopt an entirely different strategy for this match.
Unlike the US, Brazil know all about winning major trophies, crowned world champions five times and seeking a third Confederations Cup victory in attempting to retain the trophy they won in 2005.
"The first time we played Brazil we came out a bit timid," Bocanegra said at a news briefing yesterday. "We gave them too much respect.
"We went out and sat back too much, but we changed it against Egypt, playing with a lot of energy from the start and we carried that into the Spain game. We had a go at them for 90 minutes rather than absorb pressure."
The US beat Egypt 3-0 to secure a surprise semi-final berth and then secured an even more unlikely place in the final with a stunning 2-0 win over Spain, who suffered their first international defeat for nearly three years and 36 matches.
Now Brazil stand in the way of the US scoring what would be a truly historic upset with coach Bob Bradley hinting his side would play another direct, physical game against a higher-ranked opponent.
"It is very important for us to win," he said, explaining how it would help their seeding for the World Cup finals draw being held later this year.
"In our history, the US national team have had some important and very good victories but we have never won a major competition.
"We have won the CONCACAF Gold Cup and that is the reason we are here. Every team wants the chance to play in a final and we are looking forward to it. It would be incredible for us if we won it."
IMPRESSIVE CLINT
Bradley will not be able to choose son Michael for the game, however, after he was sent off towards the end of the semi-final victory.
But he will have the impressive Clint Dempsey in attack and the Fulham forward will be looking to complete an excellent tournament with a winner's medal.
Dempsey has scored twice, including the second against Spain, and was praised by FIFA Technical Study member Holger Osieck for "winning nearly every ball in the air, keeping possession and working hard" in their 3-0 win over Egypt.
Osieck also praised his "tireless" performance against Spain in which besides his goal, he helped set up the first for Jozy Altidore.
Despite the north Americans enthusiasm and new-found sense of belief, Brazil still start as overwhelming favorites.
Although the South Americans know they cannot allow themselves to be out-thought as they were for long periods against South Africa in their semi-final on Thursday, or they might struggle to win with the flourish the world loves to see.
A Daniel Alves free-kick two minutes from time secured their slender 1-0 win over the hosts and midfielder Gilberto Silva says they will be taking nothing for granted.
"I was not shocked by the US victory," he told reporters after the South Africa game.
"Spain did not do their job in a proper way, and if you do not do that you are not going to win. We respected our opponents and worked hard for the victory. We will do the same on Sunday."
Forward Robinho added: "If the United States are in the final, you cannot say they are lucky. They have improved and it is going to be very hard against them, but I think we will win."
Brazil and the US have met 15 times in the past with Brazil winning 14 matches and the US once.
Tomorrow's final starts at 2030 (1830 GMT) at Ellis Park, with the third place playoff between Spain and South Africa kicking off at 1500 (1300 GMT) at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.
Probable teams:
Brazil: 1-Julio Cesar; 2-Maicon, 3-Lucio, 14-Luisao, 16-Andre Santos; 5-Felipe Melo, 8-Gilberto Silva, 18-Ramires, 10-Kaka; 9-Luis Fabiano, 11-Robinho
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States: 1-Tim Howard; 21-Jonathan Spector, 15-Jay DeMerit, 5-Oguchi Onyewu, 3-Carlos Bocanegra; 8-Clint Dempsey, 22-Benny Feilhaber, 13-Ricardo Clark, 10-Landon Donovan; 9-Charlie Davies, 17-Jozy Altidore
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