No Ronaldinho, Ronaldo or Diego? No problem.
Several big names were missing from Brazil's Confederations Cup roster, but it's still chock full of star power, with the likes of Kaka, Robinho and Aleandre Pato leading the way for the U.S. national team's second opponent at the tournament in South Africa.
Here is Brazil's roster:
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Gomes (Tottenham Hotspur), Victor (Gremio)
Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Alex (Chelsea), Juan (AS Roma), Lucio (Bayern Munich), Luisao (Benfica), Kleber (Internacional), Andre Santos (Corinthians).
Midfielders: Anderson (Manchester United), Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Josue (VfL Wolfsburg), Ramires (Cruzeiro), Elano (Manchester City), Felipe Melo (Fiorentina), Julio Baptista (AS Roma), Kaka (AC Milan)
Forwards: Alexandre Pato (AC Milan), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Nilmar (Internacional), Robinho (Manchester City).
What do you think of Brazil's roster? Can Brazil beat Spain and win the tournament? Excited forUSA- Brazil on June 18th?
Share your thoughts below.
This is a great chance for the USMNT to get some experience against the best in the world ahead of next summer’s World Cup. I don’t have any expectations, I just hope our guys compete and learn from whatever happens. Maybe we’ll figure some stuff out about who belongs on the team headed to South Africa and who doesn’t.
We can beat this team.
Chill out people and stop hyperventilating. Lets remember what this tournament provides the USMNT. It is basically a dress rehearsal for WC2010. We get the benefit of having a dry run in group stage conditions in South Africa…actually a group of death simulation. No Group will be this nasty in 2010.
Yes of course we’d all like to win but no matter what happens the USMNT are going to gain valuable acclimatizing experience other national teams won’t have…I don’t mind if we get slapped around in 2009 as long as we learn the lessons we need to know for 2010.
Pretty good fans the USMNT has….
For those who automatically declare a loss before ANY game is played, do a favor for me and all the other MNT fans and don’t ever show up to a USMNT game. You all don’t deserve it… Go ahead and root for England you pessimists…
Our team has changed since 2006 IMMENSELY. I’m interested to see how we match up.
Come on boys!
Kizz..
To say the Egypt team is “stacked beyond comprehension” is confusing to me, or it was after 10 minutes of laughter…
The entire team plays in the Egyptian domestic league, except for a few players that play for
Dortmund (6th place bundesliga)
Wigan (12th place EPL)
Middlesbrough (EPL; relegation)
The rest play in the Egyptian Domestic League, the best league the Nile River has to offer.
Then you ripped US player b/c they play for teams like Fulham (7th place EPL; UEFA Cup next year probably);
Rennes;
Liege (Belgian champs or 2nd place every year);
Everton (FA cup finalists; top 7 EPL); Rangers (Scottish Champs);
Pachuca (Mexican giants);
and the MLS (much better league than the egyptian domestic league)
US players are playing for better teams than Egypt, we’ve already qualified for the WC, we dominate our region, yet we are no good and Egypt (who haven’t qualified for a WC since 1990) are stacked beyond comprehension? Get a clue, stop Tying Zambia at home, then start talking @$!% about other teams
this should be fun to watch…
I think our results will depend on how we play, nobody else. If we play organized, and take care of the ball (which we didn’t in 06), then we can play w/ anyone), b/c athletically we match up w/ every team, and probably surpass them…
Italy is consistently the most overrated team in the world. They play for draws and PK’s. We tied them 1-1 in the WC, when we were playing Terrible, and they won the whole thing… Admittedly I’ve only seen Egypt in African Nations highlights, but for the most part, most good African teams are similar. They are good on the ball and play w/ flair, but and organized team can frustrate them and beat them handily
To all USA soccer fans,
I respect you all for one thing; you stick by your team, but the reality is The US Men’s National team cannot hang with the big boys, that’s why none of your players are plying their trade on a major team at the moment; forget the past, we are referring to the present and Fulham, Rennes, Everton or Liege are not major teams, they are second tier clubs regardless of league.
You obviously should not lay down and watch teams walk all over your country (even though you dominate CONCACAF which no one respects), but the truth is the gap is not closing.
Just like most countries can only dream of playing USA in basketball and winning today.
I was in London to watch a boring USA loss to England last year and I was told the American players were in awe while shaking hands with the English players.
Its also tough to respect guys you know still have a long way to go; I know that does not go down well with you, but you think NBA players (regardless of race) don’t respect some kid coming from Europe? NO cos he has to earn it, ask Tony Parker.
No one is scared of American players, its not a diss.
On the Confederations Cup, I get it, you love the sport and want to see it grow here, but there are some solid teams in your group, accept that. Good luck with it though, because it will be fun to watch.
If you don’t know, that Egyptian team is stacked beyond comprehension. You will see in a month or so what I’m talking about. Once again good luck and if you don’t like people jabbing at the USMNT, have them play consistent football especially on the main stage, not in a region people don’t respect.
orange315,
It’s Basic Training. Marines go to Boot Camp.
If I knew your information when you were there I would keep you informed but unfortunately you won’t know your mailing address til’ week 3.
Have fun down at ol’ Sand Hill. Best times of my life were down there. not really.
“What happened? I thought the USMT was much better than Mexico!
If Mexico beat Brazil 1-0 in the 2005 Confederations Cup in Germany, with Kaka, Ronaldinho and Adriano, all in their prime, you would think this is like a walk in the park for Landycakes and Co”
right,because that is totally how it works. So because Mexico tied Angola (a team with a couple of real professionals,other semi professionals,farmers etc…) Angola are just as good as a team as Mexico is? teams have there on days and off days. Lets try and be smart next time we talk.
I will be in boot camp in fort benning, ga when these games happen, so someone send me a postcard explaining how the US went 3-0 in the group stages and then continued on to win the confed. cup….seriously though i will be in boot camp, and i expect to get out and see that the US maybe won one game in the group stage…but still go Uncle Sam
Diego is the the second best midfielder Brasil has. The only reason he wasn’t called up is because he is injured.
The US is not expected to win. But hopefully they play well, and show some semblance of being able to play.
maybe the us can nationalize the brasilians who play for shaktar donetsk. then we might have a shot. just look at the depth of the brasilian squad. so impressive. still, looking forward to seeing how our guys do against them.
U-S-A U-S-A! if you dont like the USMNT chances then you can ggggeeettttt ooouuuttt!
You’re absolutely right le sigh, why even play in the tournament? All is lost!
Please.
You are on a US Soccer blog, of course there is going to be high optimism and big talk before the games are played. That will likely dissipate, but I don’t think people hoping to end the group 1-1-1 is exactly predicting a US World Cup win.
Honestly, Brazil plays looser in an event like the ConFed Cup – no real thing at stake. They will run wild.
We have an amazing defense now! Frankie Hejduk is world class man and 34 years old! Plus he plays in MLS, the most competitive league in the world. How can you knock on him. He’ll blow Alves away in a match-up one-on-one any day!
Yeah, that’s one thing I have to agree with you La Liga is our fast style doesn’t seem to work in beating these teams. We’ve always put too much emphasis on who is upfront while teams like Brazil, Italy, France, etc. put emphasis on their midfield. It is the “engine room” of a team after all. Until we get more midfielders playing in Europe regularly we cannot compete. I don’t care how many Jozy’s we manufacture. We need to think more like Italy and Greece. Defense wins championships. Not a bunch of strikers. You can’t win on the international stage 7-6. You need to win 1-0 and learn to shut down the other team. Break their confidence level and disrupt their possession. If anything the U.S. fitness level is very high compared to many teams. That’s one thing we got going for us.
Culturally we have a style of football with the USMNT that clashes hard with the Brazilian, Spanish and Egyptian teams. It is only this difference that may give us a little bit of hope when playing these squads. But I’m not dreaming thinking we can beat any of them. It will be more of competing and losing 1-0 or drawing 1-1. Brazil looks at side-to-side passes and possession as a way of gaining momentum with their club. In the U.S. we are not taught this style of play and we don’t have enough players that play in La Liga, Serie A or Ligue 1 to understand the nature of this style. We seem to play the kick hard long, run fast style that is too dominant in EPL and MLS and is non-effective against the giant clubs like Brazil and Italy. Until we adopt this style and have more of our future players learn it. We’re as doomed as the English National Team has been.
Im sick and tired of fellow USMNT supporters getting ridiculed cuz they are showing some optimism going into this tournament. Sure the US does not have much to brag about, but when we do, you pessimists are all over it with “oh it was an own goal” blah blah “czechs beat us 3-0 why arent you mentioning that” SHUT UP!!
WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS and we i see instances like the tie with the wotld champs, i I will gladly brag to everyone about it. Lets show our boys that we are behind them and that we have faith in them!
Remember the 1998 Gold Cup. USA 1 – Brazil 0. GO USA!!!
“We played decent, but in no way did ever outplay them for large stretches of that game.”
Perhaps you didn’t see the second half of the game?
Let’s remember that all of the same comments were made when the Argentina roster came out last summer. Aguero! Mascherano! Maxi Rodriguez! Heinze! Zanetti! Abondonzeiri! Cruz! Gago! MESSI!!! Oh, woe was us. How could we ever keep it below 3-0? We were going to be slaughtered by a team with all that talent.
And, guess what, the game I saw, we outplayed the Argentines for long stretches, Timmy H came to play, and we got a good result. Is there any reason to think we can’t do the same against Brazil?
Posted by: A.S. | May 21, 2009 at 08:11 PM
We did? I don’t remember this. I do remember Howard having an amazing game, and Julio Cruz’s inability to finish three clear chances that would have put Argentina up 3-0 in the first 15 minutes of the game. We played decent, but in no way did ever outplay them for large stretches of that game.
What happened? I thought the USMT was much better than Mexico!
If Mexico beat Brazil 1-0 in the 2005 Confederations Cup in Germany, with Kaka, Ronaldinho and Adriano, all in their prime, you would think this is like a walk in the park for Landycakes and Co.
if this were a skills competition, brazil kills the us, but its not. It’s a soccer game and the athleticism and physical nature of the US game gives a lot of teams problems, we’ve seen this time and again. Now obviously brazil is much more talented than most teams we play, but i still believe we will be able to disrupt their game, particularly with boca, gooch, bradley playing so well right now.
The other point I’d like to make is that the US is very adept at set pieces. We all know this, and we all know the us is quite good in the air. We will not beat brazil playing pretty combination soccer, if we have a chance to win it will be following up shots on goal and putting a rebound in, a goal on a set piece or a (rare) successful cross into the box where someone knocks it in.
We are not a more skilled team than Brazil. We can beat them if BB has them play to their strengths, makes sure his offspring boca, gooch stay home and tackle cleanly and we get a couple breaks. It’s that simple.
@ 49ers
Wagner Love is in the middle of his season with CSKA Moscow. Maybe that played into his exclusion. But then again some of Drazil’s domestic players are in-season as well. So I don’t know maybe Love’s not in Dunga’s plans.
The doomsayers get annoying very quickly.
Posted by: CapeCodFutbol | May 21, 2009 at 07:13 PM
So do the blind faithers. I swear to god, some of you could be served a cup full of crap and you’d be excited about the corn kernels.
There is nothing wrong with being realistic.
People underestimate the stupidity of Dunga.
Alves won’t start. Melo won’t start (though he is an immense upgrade over both Josue and Gilberto Silva). Anderson won’t start.
We’re looking at Josue and Gilberto Silva in midfield with Kaka and Robinho working off Fabiano and Pato, with Maicon at right back.
Because Dunga doesn’t know any better.
P.S. Outside of the big names (Pato, Kaka and Robinho), Baptista scares me the most. When he’s on, he’s the best player on the field. He’s ridiculously versatile and talented, but no consistently.
Which Landon Donovan will we see during the Confeds. cup? The one who looked so awesome in the 2002 WC or the shy innocent girl in 2006? Thats what it might come down to if we have a chance to nick dare I say a win. Im saying this by the way and I love Landon Donovan,not a hater haha
Right with you adam and cape. Jeez! Let’s just mail in our registration fee’s and save on the airfare. Of course there are lots of teams that are better than the USMNT, but we must play to see how we are improving against the best.
Who said England was better than Brazil? I think they’re not, I think Brazil is clearly better. Though I will say that maybe England is closer now than in the past — though that is largely because England under Capello >>>>>> England under Sven / Steve.
ya’ll are funny.
dani alves will start in teh bench. and no way alex starts over lucio. if anything, they’ll take a midfielder out and put dani in that side.
either way, that’s two very good center backs and arguably the best gk in the world right now. and the best wing back in the world. funny, but that brazilian d scares me more than their attack.
dunga was a defensive minded mid…he’ll always pick a gilberto silva or elano over a diego any day. don’t be surprised if some of those big names sit…dunga brought a deep squad and will try to play them all.
as for the brazil not pulling their weight in wcq…who in s.america has? argentina? nope. paraguay i guess.
and lastly…this brazil team is a lot deeper than england. better gk for sure. better fw for sure…i mean, besides rooney, who else do you call up front? they don’t play gerrard and lampard at the same time….i don’t see how they’re deep at all.
Bob Bradley For Life!
Nilmar just scored one of the best goals you will ever see, as good as Messi’s best — you tube has it. Diego is a wonderful player who has never played well with the national team, while Elano has typically played better for country than club (and better than Diego). Ronaldo will definitely be back at some point, but even he admits now is not quite the time. No one can explain Gliberto Silva anymore. Grafite deserves a look, but assuming Ronaldo and Adriano get back into the mix, he is probably far down the list. Oh, to have such problems!
If we play like we did against Argentina and Spain, we should get at least 2 points, but I’m looking for 4 with us getting an upset over Italy, drawing with Egypt, and losing to Brazil.
It’s kinda funny to me that Pato will be talked about as a huge player in this game while Jozy might not even make the trip, but it was at the last U-20 World Cup that Altidore and the USA outshone Pato and Brazil.
On paper we should lose every game. So any points are an upset. You have to watch these games for how far we have come as a team and what individual players step up and prove they can compete against the best in the world.
Just was over at ussoccer.com and they have the TV for Confed TBD – and the Costa Rica qualifier too.
Anybody got definitives on this?
Game over! 🙁
All the doomsayers are trolls in my book. Go troll somewhere else! Thanks for reading.
49er, I suspect Love not being on the roster might have to do with the fact that the Russian League is in season and his club team frowned on him leaving for a few weeks.
As for the US….they might not do well in the Confed…..but at least they are STILL better than Mexico. 😉 (stirs pot)
I bet Bob is watching those Chelsea – Barca vids to get his tactics worked out. maybe a little dose of our game against Guatamala too. Those were some great bunkering displays that almost worked. LOL!
Serioulsy though, when I’m bummed out or have low energy I like to watch the highlights of USA – Germany in ’02. I get so jacked up with what could have been. That game and the Italy ’06 game prove we can play with anyone.
We need to avoid 2 pitfalls: a)think we can’t hang b) think we are better than anyone. “A” happened against England last year. If we would have played England after Spain and Argentina that game would have been quite different (IMO). “B” happened against Czech in ’06. 2002 had the team overconfident (stupid Jan Koller – please, he can barely run). If we (cliche time) “show up with out lunch boxes and hard hats” all bets are off. Period.
Let’s remember that all of the same comments were made when the Argentina roster came out last summer. Aguero! Mascherano! Maxi Rodriguez! Heinze! Zanetti! Abondonzeiri! Cruz! Gago! MESSI!!! Oh, woe was us. How could we ever keep it below 3-0? We were going to be slaughtered by a team with all that talent.
And, guess what, the game I saw, we outplayed the Argentines for long stretches, Timmy H came to play, and we got a good result. Is there any reason to think we can’t do the same against Brazil?
I can’t wait to see what Michael Bradley does on the world stage. He actually seems to do better when the pressure is on.
Never let the Debbie Downers get you down. That’s their goal.
I want Brazil and I want them at their absolute best.
That is there ‘A’ Roster… outside of excluding Diego (I wonder if his antics in the UEFA Cup Semi’s played a role)
‘Dinho is worse than a couple of great MF’s and Ronaldo is worse than Naldo at Striker. (See UEFA Cup Final)
I like how non-USMNT supporters come on here to bash the Yanks. I realize though that they are scared of our ever improving odds and skill.
Come On you Yanks!!!!!!!!!!!
Kizz..it’s “The world of Soccer with an American Voice” for a reason. And it’s not the “Voice of Reason” either, there is no reason in sport, much less *any* blog commentary.
Fun with Brazil names:
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar Chavez (Inter Milan), Gomer Pile (Tottenham Hotspur), Victor Victoria (Gremio)
Defenders: Maicon-Bacon (Inter Milan), Danielle (Barcelona), Alexandre the great, who doesn’t play much (Chelsea), Juan Pablow (AS Roma), Lucifer (Bayern Munich), Luis Figo (Benfica), Kleber Elves(Internacional), Andre Santos Laguna (Corinthians).
Midfielders: Anderson Cooper (Manchester United), Gilberto Siliva (Panathinaikos), Jose Morihno (VfL Wolfsburg), Claudio Ramires (Cruzeiro), Elano (Manchester City), Felipe Melo (Fiorentina), Juan de Baptist (AS Roma), Turd (AC Milan)
Forwards: Ducky (AC Milan), Luis Fabio “My name is Fabio” (Sevilla), Nilmar – That is a name? (Internacional), Rubitinho (Manchester City).
Can you do better?
Agreed CapeCod.
Egypt has Mohammed on their team? Darn, maybe the US and Christian right should recruit Jesus Christ, God, and the Devil so we have a chance.
Awesome!