Saturday, June 27, 2009

Confed Cup final - USA v Brazil

Fifa Confederations Cup final
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg Date: Sunday 28 June Start: 1930 BST
Coverage: Live on BBC Three and BBC Sport website from 1900 BST

TEAM NEWS

USA must make an enforced change, with midfielder Michael Bradley suspended after becoming the third American to be sent off during this tournament.

Former Derby midfielder Benny Feilhaber is vying for Bradley's spot with DaMarcus Beasley and Sacha Kljestan.

Brazil have no fresh injury concerns, but several players looked tired in the semi-final after six games in 20 days.

Full-back Daniel Alves is pushing for a recall after his match-winning free-kick against South Africa.

MATCH PREVIEW

Brazil looked to have ruined the American dream when they met in the group stage, but the USA has discovered a new land of opportunity in the subsequent 10 days.

Their South Africa sojourn threatened to be an embarrassment after the abject 3-0 defeat to Brazil on 18 June. Sunil Gulati, the president of the US Soccer Federation, was inundated with e-mails from angry fans demanding that national coach Bob Bradley be fired. No-one is writing off Bradley's side now.

Although it will be hard against the United States, who showed against Spain what a good team they are, I still think we can beat them again
Brazil coach Dunga

The USA became the first team in Confederations Cup history to qualify from the group stage with three points and a negative goal difference.

They then shocked Spain in the semi-final in arguably their greatest win since the 1-0 defeat of England at the 1950 World Cup. But can they leave the Rainbow Nation with a pot of gold?

No doubt the USA will harry Brazil's flair players as they did so effectively against Spain. Modern-day Brazil though are themselves built on a supreme work ethic and have match-winners all over the pitch.

The defending champions are contesting their fourth Confederations Cup final. But if Brazil, a superstitious nation, believe in omens, then victory could come at a price. No Confederations Cup winner has ever gone on to win the next World Cup.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

- Brazil have won 14 of the 15 previous meetings between these nations.

- The USA's only success against Brazil was a 1-0 win in the 1998 Concacaf Gold Cup semi-final in Los Angeles.

USA

- This is their fourth Confederations Cup, having twice finished third.

- They have only failed to score in one of their last 18 internationals - against Brazil in the group stage of this tournament.

- Only four players in the current squad have been retained for next month's Concacaf Gold Cup: Freddy Adu, Charlie Davies, Heath Pearce and Luis Robles.

Brazil

- Brazil are unbeaten in 15 games (W11, D4) and have won the last seven - their best run since an eight-match winning streak was ended at the 2006 World Cup.

- Dunga's side have kept 11 clean sheets during their 15-match unbeaten run.

- They have won all 11 internationals they have played in Africa.

- Luis Fabiano is joint leading scorer in the tournament with three goals, alongside Spain pair Fernando Torres and David Villa.

LAST MATCH LINE-UPS

USA (W2-0 v Spain): 1-Howard; 21-Spector, 5-Onyewu, 15-DeMerit, 3-Bocanegra (2-Bornstein 89), 8-Dempsey, 12-Bradley, 13-Clark,
10-Donovan, 9-Davies (22-Feilhaber 69), 17-Altidore (4-Casey 84)

Brazil (W1-0 v South Africa): 1-Cesar; 2-Maicon, 3-Lucio,
14-Luisao, 16-Santos (13-Alves 82), 5-Melo, 8-G Silva, 18-Ramires, 10-Kaka, 9-Fabiano (20-Kleberson 90), 11-Robinho.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: M Hansson (Swe).

Assistant referees: H Andren (Swe), F Nilsson (Swe).

Fourth official: B Archundia (Mex).

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