U.S. faces Brazil in Confederations Cup title game

Confederations Cup championship game

1 p.m. today, Johannesburg, South Africa, TV: ESPN

The scene: Other than success in the World Cup (2002 quarterfinals) and a road victory against Mexico (which has never happened), this could be the biggest moment in U.S. men’s soccer history. The Americans have never won a FIFA tournament and this is their first trip to the finals. Plus, it’s against five-time World Cup champion Brazil, which is in its fourth Confederations Cup finals and seeking a record third title.

The road to the finals: The U.S. was fortunate to advance out of group play. In stunning fashion, the U.S. beat Egypt 3-0 while Brazil beat Italy 3-0 — exactly what the Americans needed to advance. Then the U.S. pulled a shocker in the semifinals, a 2-0 win against reigning European champion Spain, which had gone unbeaten in 35 games in a row and won its last 15. Brazil was fortunate at times in holding off host South Africa 1-0 in the other semifinal.

It’s a rematch: Brazil beat the U.S. 3-0 last week in group play at the Confederations Cup, at which point the U.S. appeared finished in the tournament.

Keys to the game: As always, Brazil loves to keep possession of the ball and loves spectacular moves from stars such as Kaka, Robinho and Luis Fabiano. Can the U.S. defense hold up, as it did so well in the upset of Spain? Midfielder Michael Bradley (red-card ejection) can’t play, so the key is 6-foot-4, 210-pound Oguchi Onyewu, who teams in the central defense with Jay DeMerit. Team captain Carlos Bocanegra is a leader at the left back and Tim Howard has been solid in goal. On the other end, 19-year-old Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey (from Nacogdoches) and veteran Landon Donovan have been the main U.S. threats.

The "rivalry": OK, it’s not much of a rivalry. The U.S. has beaten Brazil once in 14 meetings, 1-0 in Los Angeles in the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean. Donovan recalled the first time he played against a Brazilian team, an under-23 game in which Brazil won 7-0. "I haven’t beaten Brazil on any level," Donovan said. "It would be amazing to do it [today]."

U.S. coach Bob Bradley’s view: "For U.S. Soccer, this is a very special day. 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."

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