American Hearts Finally Vanquished

Charlie Klein

Brazil are who we thought they were, that's why we took the damn field. If you want to crown them, then crown their ass. Brazil are who we thought they were, and we let them off the hook. Those are the words of Dennis Green, but USA coach Bob Bradley could borrow them for the post match press conference as the United States lost to the future No. 1 in the world Brazil 3-2 today in South Africa in the final of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Everything started so well for the United States. After battling hard with Brazil for the first ten minutes, Sam's Army netted a goal through a great cross from right back Jonathan Spector and finished magnificently by Fulham striker Clint Dempsey. The USA taking the early lead definitely threw the Brazilians off their game and yet Brazil kept coming wave after wave attacking Tim Howard's keep. It only seemed a matter of time before the USA resistance would break. And yet against the run of play the Americans took a two goal lead through a brilliant two-man counterattack of Charlie Davies and Landon Donovan. Donovan initially received the ball and timed a great pass to the pacy Davies who then on his first touch played Donovan through on top of the 18 yard box. Donovan's first touch of the ball was superb playing the ball back against Ramires and then finishing beautifully on his left foot putting the ball past Julio Cesar. It would be fair to say that the footballing world once again had its collective brow raised. What were these Americans doing leading Brazil!?! They don't even call the game football! They call it soccer!

Eventually all good things must come to an end. What must have felt like a dream to all USA soccer fans turned into a nightmare almost as soon as a ball was kicked in the second half. Brazil knew what they had to do and set about their task with ludicrous efficiency. Luis Fabiano, who for my money in this tournament should have won the player of the tournament award (which was given to Kaka), received the ball and elegantly turned and fired a shot past a helpless Tim Howard bringing Brazil back into the match.

The United States did not consign themselves immediately to defeat following that goal. The Americans were able to create a few chances but were ultimately missing that spark of creativity and energy necessary to bring their lead back to two goals. The US was undone by their inability to combine with each other on both halves of the pitch and Brazil's lionshare of possession is the primary indicator of that deficiency.

Brazil made their advantage pay once again through brilliant attacking play. As fellow Truth Blog scribe Puneet Singh mentioned in a previous post, their ability to utilize their outside backs as wingers has proven to be the deciding factor in almost every game Brazil has played in this tournament. Andre Santos, Douglas Maicon, and Dani Alves have all done a fantastic job of being in tons of space whenever Kaka, Gilberto Silva, and Felipe Melo decided to switch up the run of play. Fabiano played the role of poacher once again following a brilliant save from Howard and headed in the deflection to tie the game at two.

Ultimately once Brazil tied it up, everyone watching the match knew that the USA was vanquished. The Americans had put so much energy into their 2-0 lead and the defense of it that they had little energy left in the tank to regain their lead. Bradley's substitutions of Klejstan and Bornstein to me seemed to be the reverse of what was needed for the USA at that point of the match. One of the issues I have with Bradley is his desire to play his favourites, which include Klejstan. Why Freddy Adu did not play at all in the Confederations Cup is totally beyond me. An argument for Adu's firm place on the bench could be his lack of match action, but Jozy Altidore, who started in the final, barely played at all in Spain this year. Either Bradley does not see much in Adu or he does not like him as a player. For the man who was supposed to be the saviour of American soccer (although prematurely crowned at the age of 14) not to play a minute is very surprising indeed. Regardless of Adu's non-inclusion in the proceedings, Brazil continued to press on for the eventual winner.

Brazil were rewarded for their perseverence with another set piece goal. This one was set up by great corner taken by Elano which Lucio ferociously headed into the back of the net. The captain of Brazil stepped up and provided the critical goal in the critical moment of the match. It was at this point in the 86th minute that the United States were truly out of ideas.

For Brazil, this tournament showed not only their depth of skill but also their depth of heart. Every player with the exception of their two backup keepers played during their run to the final and the team barely missed a solitary samba beat. Luis Fabiano proved to the world what many football nerd types already knew; that man is a world class striker capable of scoring anywhere in and around the 18 yard box.

The United States showed the true grit and determination necessary to be champions in the past three matches but ultimately lacked the skill necessary to beat a team like Brazil over the course of 90 minutes. Players like Dempsey, Donovan, Altidore, Onyewu, and Howard all showed why they are viewed as match winners for their team coming up with important goals and saves that kept the USA dream alive. This tournament showed the true range of the USA Men's National team: its great potential for success but also its considerable capability of crumbling under pressure.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is less than a year away and for both of these teams the work they have done this year will surely echo in the grounds of South Africa for the months that lie ahead.