USA vs. Brazil Lineup: Analyzing Rosters in International Friendly

The U.S. national team is playing in a friendly today against Brazil, as the Americans look to improve on a 1-15 record against a team that has certainly had their number in the past.

With around 60,000 fans expected to pack FedEx Field tonight, this is going to be an exciting match that will give fans a glimpse of what to expect in the World Cup qualifiers later this summer. The coaches' main goal is to evaluate the talent and decide who is improving and who may not be fit for the job any longer, while doing so in a low-pressure environment. 

U.S. Roster by Position

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake) 

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting Lisbon), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland) 

Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Torres (Pachuca) 

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Brazilian Roster by Position

Goalkeepers: Jefferson (Botafogo), Neto (Fiorentina), Rafael (Santos)

Defenders: Dani Alves (Barcelona), Danilo (Porto), Juan (Inter Milan), David Luiz (Chelsea), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Alex Sandro (Porto), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), Bruno Uvini (Tottenham)

Midfielders: Casemiro (Sao Paulo), Paulo Henrique Ganso (Santos), Giuliano (Dnipro), Lucas (Sao Paulo), Wellington Nem (Fluminense), Oscar (Internacional), Romulo (Vasco de Gama), Sandro (Tottenham).

Forwards: Leandro Damiao (Internacional), Hulk (Porto), Neymar (Santos), Alexandre Pato (AC Milan).

Preview

Jozy Altidore became a member of the team on Monday to complete the 23-man roster. He will be one of the keys in attacking the Brazilian defense.  

Brazilian defender Thiago Silva and his 26 caps make him the most experienced player on their roster, and it’s up to Clint Dempsey, Altidore and Landon Donovan to figure out a way to get past him. They have to pick their spots and avoid aggressive errors that set Brazil up for an easy scoring opportunity.

Dempsey sat out last Saturday’s match with a groin strain, so he might be limited to nothing more than a substitute’s role with two World Cup qualifiers on the horizon. That means there will be additional pressure on Jose Torres to keep possession and ensure the vaunted Brazilian forwards don’t spend much time with the ball.

With the 2012 Olympics on the horizon, the Brazilian team is going to be highly motivated, especially guys like Alexandre Pato, who is attempting to show coaches he is completely over the injury that hampered his season with AC Milan.

But he isn’t even among the top-two forwards that the Americans have to be concerned with.

Hulk is fresh off telling the world he will be playing for Chelsea this season, and he enters this friendly as one of the premier players in the world. Few, if any, possess his combination of quickness, strength and the ability to finish.

Yet the player U.S. defenders must be most concerned with should be Neymar, who registered a goal against the U.S. in his international debut almost two years ago. It will be up to U.S. midfielders Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones and Maurice Edu to ensure he doesn’t deliver a repeat performance.  

And this will ultimately be the difference in this match.

If the U.S. midfielders can contain the prolific and explosive forwards of Brazil, they can pull off the shocking upset. After playing splendidly well against Scotland, there is certainly reason to believe they can do it. It’s all about impeding the passing lanes and closing down space.

With no clear advantage at goalie, this game will be decided in the middle of the field.

Prediction: Brazil 2, U.S. 1

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