O/T Confederations Cup Final: Brazil-USA

Final is tomorrow (Sunday) at 11:30, pacific. Is that um 8:30 CEST?  Not sure.  Weather should be clear and mid-40'sF/14C- nice.

So what to make of this final? Before breaking down the teams I want to remind folks that no European team has won a World Cup outside of Europe and I think that trend will continue. What that means are more "upsets" will happen, such as we are seeing in this Confederations Cup, especially of European powers losing to less heralded sides from Elsewhere.  But on to this match:

Brazil looks good. Real good. Naturally some folks are complaining how Brazil isn't playing beautifully, but that's been an annual complain since the 80's, so discount it. Kaka is one of the three best players in the world at present and with any space or service he's electrifying. What I especially love with this team is their counterattack: like a pack of Impalas as they fly down the field. Another strength are their set pieces as they've scored 5 of of their 11 goals via that route.  DO NOT foul them anywhere near the box.

Weaknesses? To me their biggest is their midfield defense. If you saw their South Africa match you saw Bafana Bafana take away most Brazialian initiative as the South African midfield pressed their Brazial counterparts, repeatedly took the ball, and controlled the flow of the game. It says here that if South Africa had any sort of finishing ability they would have won. Egypt did much the same vs Brazil in the first game too.  Coach Dunga definitely has to work on this after this tournament is over.

The USA meanwhile all of a sudden got a clue, and is playing their best soccer since, well, the 2002 World Cup. I was very hard on the team in the last post but since then it seems like what their coach Bob Bradley was looking for just clicked with the players and they've produced two superior games since vs Egypt and Spain. Since much of what clicked was getting the midfield to press harder up the field, we could see something similar to what South Africa did vs Brazil with the crucial difference that the USA can finish better.

On the other hand, the US is prone to brain farts: bad fouls in the wrong part of the field, and red cards. They do any of those vs Brazil and they are toast. they they did those things repeatedly against Brazil the first time means that the first 15 minutes of this game will be huge. If the USA gives up an early goal, or even just allows Brazil to dictate terms early on, Brazil will win comfortably.  If the US can hold it's own and play a fair amount of time in the Brazil side then the game will stay tight till the end.

Brazil should win.  Very possibly by a couple of goals. But there is a definite possibility of an American win, if they keep playing better and Brazil thinks they have this game won before the opening whistle.  The USA could continue to play great (for them) and lose to a Brazilian team that could well win the World Cup again next year. At any rate, let's hope for a good game!