With Bob Bradley still the United States coach – for now – Tuesday’s high-profile friendly against five-time World Cup champion Brazil (8 p.m. ESPN2) is more of a final celebration of what they did in 2010 before the first steps in building towards what they hope to accomplish in 2014.
It remains to be seen if a World Cup epilogue against Brazil help them in Brazil _ and if Bradley will be around to see it.
Young players will eventually have to be bled, but Bradley _ whom the British bookmakers have installed as the favorite to take over Aston Villa, owned by Brooklyn-born Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner _ may not be around to do it; so tonight’s game in front of over 65,000 at the New Meadowlands could both an appreciation game for the team and perhaps a farewell for its coach.
“I had a few discussions with U.S. soccer. This (game) comes at a tricky time. We agreed it’s most important to prepare for this, then we’d have more discussion,” said Bradley. He confirmed that his reps had indeed talked with Fulham, and added of Aston Villa “I’m always excited about new and different challenges. Coaching in Europe at some point is something I’d love to do.”
Veteran keeper Tim Howard, who opens the Premier League season this weekend for Everton, said Bradley landing an EPL job would be a huge step forward for American soccer. But the actual U.S. team is delaying any dreams of their future at least for another game, with Bradley calling in the usual suspects for tonight.
The roster includes 15 players who played in last month’s World Cup, and Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez is the only one getting his first cap. Bradley included Howard, captain Carlos Bocanegra, and attackers Landon Donovan and Jozy Altidore, both of whom may switch club teams soon.
Donovan has drawn interest from Manchester City and Everton, the latter of whom he had a successful loan stint last EPL season. Altidore scored the equalizer in Villarreal’s 2-2 draw Sunday with Besiktas, a Turkish team to whom he reportedly may be sold. But the Livingston, NJ-born striker isn’t buying the reports, dismissing them as “paper talk.”
Altidore _ who was a last-minute replacement when Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones pulled out of what would’ve been his U.S. debut _ not only wants to stay with the la Liga side that bought him from the Red Bulls for a U.S.-record $10 million, but expects to stay after a talk with manager Juan Carlos Garrido.
“He’s told me if I stay there and train well I’m going to play. Of course if I had my way I’d love to be there and prove my worth,” said Altidore. “Do I expect to be there? Yeah, I expect to be there. It’s the club that gave me the opportunity so now I’s time that I proved I belong.”
No matter the club situations of Altidore and Donovan, the fact remains a decision looms for U.S. Soccer, and they may have to replace Bradley either by choice or necessity. With the young roster Brazil has assembled _ led by the attacking quartet of striker Pato, and Neymar and Robinho on the flanks _ its clear they are already looking forward to hosting 2014.
“It’s going to be tough. They’re never easy to play against. They’re a good team move the ball,” said Altidore. “It’s a good opportunity for us to really get experience, us younger players. It starts tomorrow, what we do in the next four years.”
The United States’ last tilt vs. Brazil was in the final of last summer’s Confederations Cup final, leading 2-0 at halftime before giving up three unanswered goals. They used that as a springboard to win their group for the first time in the World Cup, and the players who’ll be key figures in 2014 _ Altidore, Donovan, Howard _ stand something to gain Wednesday as well.
“We’re at a point now where we expect to compete with these teams in a real way, not in a shot-in-the-dark, hope-to-beat-Brazil but we’re going to compete with them and hope to win the game,” said Donovan. “We believe that now, and in the past we didn’t.”