Our Boys Play Just Like Brazil . . .

I don’t think it is any mean coincidence the Confederation Cup final was contested between the United States vs. Brazil. Likewise I don’t think that in the end that Brazil came out on top, narrowly. Brazil has a strong footballing legacy, and in the end it proved enough to earn victory. Other than, that one historical difference, the teams proved to virtually identical programmaticaly and “the product” placed on the pitch.

The trend in football on the international stage has swung in a pattern that favors teams from the new world. Football success can be measured in biometrics rather than in ball skills. Look at the torrid time that Argentina has had as of late, you could argue that it comes down to management, but conversely a stronger case can come down to key physical attributes. Argentines, like Messi and Aguero are so small.

When we watched the U.S. play against Egypt and Spain, the U.S. was just bigger, faster, and more competitive to the ball. It would be an unconvincing argument to say that the U.S. “outclassed” Spain or Egypt. They were just more imposing, physically. The same can be said regarding Brazil on their way to the final—it is interesting to notice the Brazil vs. South Africa match, another one concentrating on physical size and not silky smooth ball skills.

When it came to the final you could see a game of strength against strength. So often when we think of Brazil and their footballing legacy we collapse into thoughts of one-touch passing and ball-juggling tricks. Modern Brazilian football is based on size, strength, and pragmatism. Since the beginning of his tenure Dunga has been critiqued for the lack of flair in his football. Even a player with the tenacity and goal-scoring ability of Luis “The Panther” Fabiano, has played second fiddle to the physically imperious “Emperor” Adriano, at least until the latter’s recent emotional difficulties. It was this stroke of (mis)fortune that preserved the day for Brazil and delivered to them the Confederations Cup today.

The outcome to the match was anything but certain, in the first 45, Brazil was out muscled and out hustled, by the indefatigable Tim Howard, and the imperious Oguchi Onyewu. Davies and Altidore provided the strength, size and speed, while Donovan did what he did best—flash (really good goal) and then fizzle (“It’s me!”). The impact of size in strength was notably illustrated by the frustration of those marking Jozy Altidore. His strength (and class) clearly showed as he held the ball out of their reach. It was all work rate and size that created and preserved the US lead, and I am certain that Brazil took note. In the second half it was evident by the changes that Dunga put on the field. A more attacking side yes, but also a more athletic side. Dani Alves, and Elano—the former a physical specimen that was such an important part of the Barcelona squad, and Elano a player that slogged through and survived a number Premier League seasons. Those additions to the field made all the difference in the world. Where Brazil played a more teasing game probing at the 8 men that the US put be hind the ball at first, the second half became more direct. Route 1 vs. Route 1 football. The difference at the end of the day turned out to be not the difference in size or strength but in reality predatory instinct, displayed by Fabiano. His two goals pulled Brazil back into the game. Setting up the chance for Lucio to end the contest with a scrappy header.

In the end, despite the plethora of chances that Brazil created, the US should be extraordinarily proud that not only the match was so close but that Brazil’s footballing success is predicated upon a system that the US basically invented—sports through biometrics.