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Brazil run USA ragged as Jürgen Klinsmann's failings exposed Brazil run USA ragged as Jürgen Klinsmann's failings exposed
(35 minutes later)
It was supposed to be about the performance, not the result – but neither of those factors in the USA’s lopsided loss to Brazil will be cause for optimism with an important playoff match looming next.It was supposed to be about the performance, not the result – but neither of those factors in the USA’s lopsided loss to Brazil will be cause for optimism with an important playoff match looming next.
In their final prep match before they face Mexico to try to qualify for the 2017 Confederations Cup, the USA fell apart against Brazil, losing 4-1. In front of a crowd of 29,308 in at Gillette Stadium, Brazil ran a clinic in the second half as Neymar tallied a brace. Danny Williams got USA’s lone goal in injury time. In their final prep match before they face Mexico to try to qualify for the 2017 Confederations Cup, the USA fell apart against Brazil, losing 4-1. In front of a crowd of 29,308 in at Gillette Stadium, Brazil ran a clinic in the second half as Neymar tallied a brace. Danny Williams got USA’s lone goal in injury time, a small consolation prize in an otherwise dismal team effort.
Brazil controlled the night from the first whistle, but Rafinha tore the match open with a flash of brilliance to put Brazil up with their third goal. On a quick counter with the Americans chasing, Rafinha danced through the USA backline, flicking the ball behind his own right foot and then fired past goalkeeper Brad Guzan. It was a composed, dazzling finish that summed up Brazil’s hold over the hosts in Foxborough, Massachusetts.Brazil controlled the night from the first whistle, but Rafinha tore the match open with a flash of brilliance to put Brazil up with their third goal. On a quick counter with the Americans chasing, Rafinha danced through the USA backline, flicking the ball behind his own right foot and then fired past goalkeeper Brad Guzan. It was a composed, dazzling finish that summed up Brazil’s hold over the hosts in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Related: USA 1-4 Brazil — as it happenedRelated: USA 1-4 Brazil — as it happened
USA coach Jürgen Klinsmann’s starting line-up suggested he is far from settled on his personnel, especially defensively. Center-backs Ventura Alvarado and Michael Orozco were handed their first start as a tandem while Alejandro Bedoya, normally a wide midfielder, was given a tryout in a central holding role to cut off Brazil’s advances. But Bedoya was outrun repeatedly by Brazil’s midfield and Klinsmann seemed to give up the experiment after just 36 minutes, replacing Bedoya with Williams, who scored in the 93rd minute with a 25-yard rocket. USA coach Jürgen Klinsmann’s starting line-up suggested he is far from settled on his personnel, especially defensively. Center-backs Ventura Alvarado and Michael Orozco were handed their first start as a tandem while Geoff Cameron and Tim Ream featured as fullbacks, although they are center-backs at their respective English clubs.
The Americans had only ever defeated Brazil once in 17 prior meetings – the lone win coming in 1998 – and Klinsmann said the match was not about the result, but an important benchmark to evaluate which players are ready for next month’s playoff. But for Klinsmann, who took heat for a very poor showing in this summer Concacaf Gold Cup, the rout to Brazil will likely only spark more criticism. Alejandro Bedoya, normally a wide midfielder, was given a tryout in a central holding role to cut off Brazil’s advances. But Bedoya was outrun repeatedly by Brazil’s midfield and Klinsmann seemed to give up the experiment after just 36 minutes, replacing Bedoya with Williams, who scored in the 91st minute with a 25-yard rocket.
Klinsmann told reporters afterward he thought Bedoya was “a very good option” based on prior appearances, but the player himself said he had never been tasked with the role of a holding midfielder.
“Alejandro had a little bit of a problem getting into his rhythm, into his game,” Klinsmann said of his early substitution. “There’s only so much time you can give him and if you see that clearly that he can’t get into the game, you have to make a sub.”
The Americans had only ever defeated Brazil once in 17 prior meetings – the lone win coming in 1998 – and Klinsmann said the match was not about the result, but an important benchmark to evaluate which players are ready for next month’s playoff. But for Klinsmann, who took heat for a very poor showing in this summer Concacaf Gold Cup, the rout to Brazil will likely only spark more questions.
Brazil started things off quickly with a brilliant run by Willian, perhaps Brazil’s best player of the first half, to put Canarinho ahead after just nine minutes. Willian intercepted a poor giveaway from DeAndre Yedlin, muscled through the American backline and sent in a cross that bounced off the post. It landed at the feet of Hulk, who coolly cut in and slipped the ball past Guzan.Brazil started things off quickly with a brilliant run by Willian, perhaps Brazil’s best player of the first half, to put Canarinho ahead after just nine minutes. Willian intercepted a poor giveaway from DeAndre Yedlin, muscled through the American backline and sent in a cross that bounced off the post. It landed at the feet of Hulk, who coolly cut in and slipped the ball past Guzan.
Yedlin nearly made up for his mistake moments later, racing behind Brazil’s defence to collect a Geoff Cameron chip and slipping a pass to Jozy Altidore, who couldn’t get his shot on target.Yedlin nearly made up for his mistake moments later, racing behind Brazil’s defence to collect a Geoff Cameron chip and slipping a pass to Jozy Altidore, who couldn’t get his shot on target.
Brazil quickly doubled their lead after the break with a penalty. David Luiz sent a brilliant 60-yard pass to Neymar, subbed in for Willian at the half, who deftly chested the ball down. He was immediately taken down by Cameron. Guzan dived the correct way for Neymar’s spot kick but couldn’t keep it out. Neymar capped the scoring for Brazil in the 67th minute, taking on four defenders and knocking the ball past Guzan.Brazil quickly doubled their lead after the break with a penalty. David Luiz sent a brilliant 60-yard pass to Neymar, subbed in for Willian at the half, who deftly chested the ball down. He was immediately taken down by Cameron. Guzan dived the correct way for Neymar’s spot kick but couldn’t keep it out. Neymar capped the scoring for Brazil in the 67th minute, taking on four defenders and knocking the ball past Guzan.
Brazil held the edge in possession, 53% to 47%, doing more with the ball to outshoot the Americans, 14 to six.Brazil held the edge in possession, 53% to 47%, doing more with the ball to outshoot the Americans, 14 to six.
The Americans edged out Peru on Friday, a 2-1 win in their first match since a horrendous Gold Cup several weeks ago, but their poor showing against Brazil dampened the reprieve for the Americans. A loss to Jamaica in the semi-final and another to Panama in the third-place game marked the USA’s worst Gold Cup finish in 15 years and their first time missing the final in six iterations. The Americans edged out Peru on Friday, a 2-1 win in their first match since a horrendous Gold Cup several weeks ago, but their poor showing against Brazil dampened any reprieve for the Americans from the tournament. A loss to Jamaica in the semi-final and another to Panama in the third-place game marked the USA’s worst Gold Cup finish in 15 years and their first time missing the final in six iterations.
Klinsmann adjusted his roster heading into Tuesday’s match against Brazil, bringing in midfielder Michael Bradley, forward Jordan Morris and goalkeeper Sean Johnson. Released were defender Matt Besler, who Klinsmann said played well but had a conflict with Sporting Kansas City, and goalkeeper William Yarbrough. Clint Dempsey was scheduled to arrive in time to face Brazil, but was held back due to a hamstring injury.Klinsmann adjusted his roster heading into Tuesday’s match against Brazil, bringing in midfielder Michael Bradley, forward Jordan Morris and goalkeeper Sean Johnson. Released were defender Matt Besler, who Klinsmann said played well but had a conflict with Sporting Kansas City, and goalkeeper William Yarbrough. Clint Dempsey was scheduled to arrive in time to face Brazil, but was held back due to a hamstring injury.
Now Klinsmann is left with the difficult task of figuring out which line-up to field against Mexico in the Confederations Cup playoff after unsuccessful rotations and experimentation in recent months. Now Klinsmann is left with the difficult task of figuring out which line-up to field against Mexico in the Confederations Cup playoff after unsuccessful rotations and experimentation in recent months. Tuesday’s friendly, it seems, raised more questions than it did answers.