I don't know the specifics of why the USMNT match in Azteca broke down, but at least the suits replaced it with a friendly vs. Brazil, cha! cha! cha! http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7119318 More Brazil, just like cowbell, is a good thing.
Oh my. A friendly against Brazil? That's a hell of a test if I've ever see one! I would be proud if we pulled out a tie against them, unless they field a JV like squad.
First thing came to mind as reason for abandoning was team security... second was overall security... third was. "We dont need that aggro!" And Brazil not likely to field their primo lineup
Re: RE: Mexico...No!!! Brazil...Si!!!! True, not much chance of Kaka or Ronaldinho or the like making the trip over from Europe for a one-off friendly. But even just the guys based in Brazil should make for an entertaining match.
i dont like this move at all. sure, playing brazil will grab headlines and put butts in the seats. but when you get down to it, brazil wont field their best squad and it wont do much in the long-run. azteca aside, the usmnt needs to start playing friendlies in hostile environments against other nation's FULL squads in order to grow and get better. enough of this being the bully amongst the chumps. we need to become a chump amongst bullies.
We do play Sweden away, a week from Wednesday, along with Catelonia (half of the Spanish A-team) and Switzerland away in October, so I'm not too stressed about missing a game in Asthma stadium. We don't need to prove ourselves against CONCACAF teams; playing European teams in Europe is far more important.
I doubt we'll actually see half of the Spanish A team in the friendly in Barcelona, given that the Spanish national team has a Euro qualifier in Denmark the day before. Even so, it's against a pretty decent side (certainly better than most of CONCACAF) in a hostile environment, which is what we need. I can't bring myself to be disappointed about our guys not getting bags of urine flung at them.
full strength Brazil to Chicago Who said Brazil won't field their best squad?? Not I!! http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewAr ... 28239.html Ronaldinho, Kaka, Robinho, Julio Baptista and the rest of the lot all in the house! Would the finances permit I'd be in Chicago again next week and half of me is about to go book a flight anyway. Oh well TV will have to do, probably won't be half the game the Mexico one was anyway.
RE: full strength Brazil to Chicago The best roster for the US. Good move by Bradley. . .maybe making up for Copa America, I think we will get worked but I'd go with. . . Howard Cherundolo Boca DeMerit Spector Beasley Feilhaber Bradley Dempsey Donovan Wolff? I'm glad bornstein got the ax for this game, I much rather see Pearce and Spector.
RE: full strength Brazil to Chicago Now wouldn't it be something if we could hold them to a draw. This will definitely be a match I'd want to watch. And ESPN should be smart enough to pick up the rights. Cmon, it's friggin Brazil on our home soil!
RE: full strength Brazil to Chicago Wow, I'm impressed. (Especially since I said upthread that I didn't think Brazil would be bringing their full roster.) I don't know much about Pearce but I don't think Spector is the answer at left back, he doesn't look comfortable on that side. I think Arnaud getting a callup here is a sign that Bradley continues to wonder who can play forward for this team. I guess I'd roll out: Howard Dolo - Gooch - Boca - Pearce Deuce - Feilhaber - Mastro - Beas Donovan - Arnaud
RE: full strength Brazil to Chicago I can see not bringing Adu (we don't need another attacking midfielder), but Altidore should have been called up.
RE: full strength Brazil to Chicago Altidore makes sense to me as well. The only mitigating factor I can think of is if NYRB management asked Bradley to keep him out of this one because of club conflicts. We aren't privy to a lot of these decisions. Along those lines, I'd prefer that they not have picked Boca to this squad. I think that he'd be better off staying at Motspur park working with the rest of the defense to make a real performing unit out of it. The cheesehead can partner Gooch in his absence. But nobody ever puts me in charge.
RE: full strength Brazil to Chicago Jozy missed Saturday's game against the Fire with a calf injury. Aside from any other issues due to his age or readiness, that'd be one reason not to call him up in this spot.
