USA vs. Brazil Lineup: Most Important Players for Americans in Critical Friendly

After defeating Scotland 5-1, the United States has a chance to prove they are for real during Wednesday night's matchup with the always dangerous Brazil. 

The Americans got off to a rough start under head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, but they have looked especially good in their last four matches, which include a win over Italy and Saturday's drubbing of Scotland.

If Team USA can manage to get a result against Selecao, it will be a huge moment for American football, even though this is simply a friendly.

Let's take a look at the most important players for the American side. 

Note: For a complete look at USA's roster, click here

Clint Dempsey

The talented attacking midfielder is important simply because of his nagging injury. Whether he plays or not will have a huge effect on the American side. 

As it stands now, Deuce, who missed Saturday's friendly with Scotland, is questionable to play against Brazil. 

Should he prove to be healthy enough for the startling lineup, Dempsey, who is coming off a historical season in which he scored 17 goals for Fulham, will bring a whole new dimension to Team USA's attack. 

Not only will Dempsey take the pressure off America's lone striker better than any of the other midfielders, he knows how to finish and he is dangerous in the counter attack, which is what the US will likely have to do against Brazil. 

The Americans have plenty of weapons up front, as they proved against Scotland, but adding Dempsey to the mix frees everyone else up even more. 

Oguchi Onyewu

"Gooch" came on as a sub against Scotland, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him starting right in the middle of that back line on Saturday. 

If he does get the nod in the Starting XI, Onyewu is going to have a busy night.

Brazil will likely control somewhere between 55 and 60 percent of the possession against the US, and most of that will be on the attacking half. 

When that happens, Selecao has the weapons to do a lot of damage. Hulk and Neymar are both goal-scoring machines, while Brazil's midfield and even their wide backs will likely push up.

Defending the box—and secondly, getting on the counter attack—is going to be incredibly key for the Americans. Gooch, along with experienced defenders Steve Cherundolo and Carlos Bocanegra, will be important in making that happen.

Jermaine Jones

Not only will the back line be incredibly important in defending Brazil's menacing attack, but so will Jones and Michael Bradley, who will have to play farther back than they are used to.

Bradley and Jones were brilliant in the attack against Scotland. We know what they can do on that half of the pitch and we know that Bradley is stellar defensively, but it will be important for Jones to display his defensive skills as well.

He'll likely once again prove effective on the attack, but can Jones stay with Oscar, Lucas, or any of Brazil's attacking midfielders?

That's a question Americans hope will be answered with a resounding "yes" on Saturday night.

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