The U.S. National Team’s game against Brazil tonight was not only a thank-you to the public that embraced them during their memorable World Cup run this summer, but also served as a measuring stick to show what needs to be done before the next tourney four years from now in Brazil.
It remains to be seen if coach Bob Bradley will be in charge then, with his contract is due to expire at the end of the year. But with regards to self-evaluation, Brazil was very helpful; if there was an American weakness, the five-time World Cup champs exposed it and exploited it. And by the time it was over, the U.S. had suffered a 2-0 loss in front of 77,223 at the New Meadowlands.
Many of the same flaws that were apparent in South Africa were underscored last night, from an inability to get hold of the ball, to too few creative ideas to a leaky defense. But last night they got abused out wide, especially Jonathan Bornstein and Alejandro Bedoya. On the first score, Andre Santos burned Bedoya on the overlap and put in a perfect cross that Neymar beat Bornstein to for a headed goal.
The on the second, with Brazil picking the United States apart, Ganso slid a pass by midfielder Michael Bradley to Ramires. He played a perfectly-weighted through-ball past defender Carlos Bocanegra to Pato, who rounded keeper Tim Howard for the easy 2-0 lead.
A Sacha Klejsten golazo was waved off with Bradley offside; but the fact of the matter was this beating was complete and comprehensive, the U.S. getting outshot 20-7 and outplayed worse than that.
This was a United States team that was nearly full-strength, with young Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez the only debutante and 15 of the 18 players having just come from this summer’s World Cup. Brazil, on the other hand, had just four players that were in South Africa, and were led by 18-year-old Neymar.
Much of the attention coming in was paid not only to the club situations of both Landon Donovan and Jozy Altidore _ with Beskitas and Ajax reportedly interested in buying him from Villarreal _ but even moreso Bradley.
British bookmakers have made him the favorite to land the manager’s job at Aston Villa, owned by Brooklyn-born Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner. But the fact is last night showed their progress in Brazil may be just as reliant upon USSF president Sunil Gulati as whoever he employs as coach, developing young, skilled talent for the roster just as vital as the Usual Suspects already in it.