Okay, we're going out on a limb here, but we have watched almost every minute of every game of the Confederations Cup and we have come to a conclusion:
Team USA is better than Brazil
How good? Well, consider the following:
1. Team USA just beat the top team in the world.
2. Brazil could barely get by South Africa. They had limited luck penetrating a strong South African defensive line, but the US has a much stronger, bigger, faster, more cohesive, and more disciplined defensive line than South Africa.
3. Team USA's earlier tournament loss to Brazil came with ten players, yet again due to a weak call by the ref.
4. Tim Duncan, the goaltender for team USA, is playing with attitude. Did you see him making the international crybaby sign to Xavi?
5. The US has the best middle defender in the world in Oguchi "Gooch" Onyewu (he's the one wearing the black state trooper gloves). Did you catch Gooch patting David Villa on the head after a failed run? Like I said, attitude...
6. Landon Donovan. No attitude, just an incredible offensive mid-fielder.
7. Forward Clint Dempsey. Dempsey understands what Donovan is trying to do and gets to where he needs to be. On Dempsey's goal against Spain, when everyone expected Donovan to shoot, Dempsey knew the pass was coming. Dempsey is on a par with anyone on Brazil.
8. Forward Jozy Altidore is bigger than the Brazilian defenders. He's going to pick them up and move them out of the way on the way to the net.
What could sink the US?
1. The double-standard that FIFA refs apply to Team USA compared to the other top teams in the world...you never know if the ref is going out on the field with the red card already pulled.
2. Free kicks. The Brazilians aren't as good as they used to be, and the ball doesn't seem to bend as much anymore, but they can still score on any free kick from within 25 meters.
