JOHANNESBURG — Landon Donovan remembers the first time he played the Brazilians, when his under-23 team trudged off the field, victims of a 7-0 thrashing.
“I haven’t beaten Brazil on any level,” the U.S. forward said Saturday. “It would be amazing to do it tomorrow.”
Amazing, unbelievable, spectacular — any adjective would apply.
When the Americans play Brazil in the Confederations Cup final today, they have a chance to create a watershed moment in U.S. soccer. The Americans have never won a FIFA tournament — this is the first time they’ve even made it to a final — and a victory over the five-time World Cup champions would signal they are closer than ever to the likes of Spain, England, Argentina, Italy and Germany.
It would be a big hit back home too, where fans who couldn’t tell a corner kick from a handball just a few days ago have suddenly become soccer aficionados.
“For U.S. soccer, this is a very special day,” coach Bob Bradley said. “It’s the first time we’re playing in a final of a world competition like this, and to play against Brazil — everybody knows their history — is extra special.”
The U.S. has beaten Brazil only once in 14 tries, and that 1-0 victory came in Los Angeles in the semifinals of the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Just last week, Brazil routed the Americans 3-0 in group play at the Confederations Cup. The loss left the U.S. on the verge of elimination and had some critics calling for Bradley’s job.
But the U.S. men turned their fortunes around immediately after that game and are a different team now.
“Winning a major FIFA championship against Brazil on the heels of beating Spain, the No. 1 team in the world, would be an extraordinary achievement,” U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said. “American soccer is on a long term ascendancy — a win tomorrow would certainly help people appreciate that.”
The Americans beat Egypt 3-0 to squeak through from the group stage. They then stunned top-ranked Spain with a 2-0 victory, ending the European champion’s record 15-game winning streak.
And now, Brazil.
“This is a big opportunity for us, and one we don’t get very often,” Donovan said. “There’s no promise that we’ll ever get back to a final like this, so we’ve got to try to take advantage of it. If we lose, we lose, but we’re going to give everything we have.”
For Brazil, playing in a final is nothing new. This is its fourth at the Confederations Cup, and it’s seeking a record third title.
As if that’s not daunting enough for the Americans, they’ll also have to try to corral Kaka, Robinho and Luis Fabiano without key midfielder Michael Bradley. Bradley, the coach’s son, picked up a red card in the final minutes of the victory over Spain.
Brazil coach Dunga probably will stay with the same lineup from the semifinals. Although Daniel Alves gave Brazil the late winner coming off the bench, Maicon is expected to stay at right back.
The U.S. players have been inundated with well-wishes from back home since their shocking upset of Spain on Wednesday. People magazine even posted a story about the team on its website: “Boys of Soccer: Meet the U.S. Team’s Victorious Hunks.”
It’s a far cry from the criticism they heard last week.
Uncharted territory
What: Confederations Cup final— U.S. vs. Brazil
When: 12:30 p.m.
Where: Johannesburg, South Africa
TV: ESPN
How it happened: The U.S. men’s soccer team is in a major FIFA final for the first time — ever. After opening first-round play with 3-0 and 3-1 losses to Brazil and Italy respectively, the team had virtually no chance to advance to the semifinals. But the U.S. beat Egypt 3-0, and Brazil defeated Italy 3-0, giving the Americans the tiebreaker over Italy. The U.S. then blanked Spain 2-0 in the semis, its second win ever over a No. 1 team.
