USA vs Brazil: A High-Profile International Friendly for the Ages!

USA vs Brazil

It’s just an international friendly, but it is a friendly between the USA and Brazil and that makes a whole lot of difference.

Brazil have plenty of things to prove after their disappointing exit in the World Cup, while the USA are hoping to continue their rebuild following a horrible year that saw them miss out on the biggest and grandest competition in the world.

Sure enough, friendlies often underwhelm. However, with the kind of summer these two nations had, they could both use a victory as they gear up for the bigger competitions ahead.

Talking Points

The USA and Brazil couldn’t be more different. While Brazil are stacked and loaded with top talents, the Americans are once again building from the ground up following their failed bid to make it to Russia last year.

Team USA are rebuilding with youth, and if that’s not obvious yet, the average age of the players they will be fielding against Brazil is 23 years old—with an average cap total of 11.

Unfortunately for US and caretaker boss Dave Sarachan, they will be without their brightest young star Christian Pulisic. The 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker has been sidelined with a muscular injury and is expected to be out in their friendly against Mexico as well.

USA star Christian Pulisic is out in his side's upcoming international friendly against Brazil — USA star Christian Pulisic controls the ball during Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga match against RB Leipzig

Hannover 96 striker Bobby Wood is projected to lead the frontline of the US team, alongside Paris-Saint Germain attacker Tim Weah—who made his international debut in a 1-0 friendly victory against Paraguay last March and scored his first USA goal against Bolivia in the following warm-up match.

On the other hand, Brazil are filled with top-quality players, with Coach Tite likely to play a Starting XI that is close to his strongest squad.

Neymar, of course, will be the one to watch. While his controversial after-foul rolls have been the subject of ridicule during the World Cup, he remains one of the best and most talented football players on the planet.

Moreover, there are also the likes of Roberto Firmino and Philipp Coutinho who are well capable of changing the course of any game for the Selecao.

Tite won’t be with several regular starters, including defenders Marcelo and Fagner and forward Gabriel Jesus; however, there’s no doubt that his squad is still overflowing with quality despite the absences.

Now, the concern for both teams is how they will play against each other. With Brazil’s squad and current form, they are more likely to play aggressively and attack with purpose and intent—they have Neymar after all.

Meanwhile, the USA are predicted to have a defensive approach, though playing on their turf could push them to attack and take more chances. They did play a five-man defence when they held France to a 1-1 draw last June before the World Cup, and Sarachan could deploy the same strategy if he wants to play it safe.

History

The two teams have a long history playing against each other, meeting on 18 previous occasions since 1930. Nonetheless, their meetings have largely been one-sided, with the Selecao winning 17 times and losing just once to the USA—in the 1998 Gold Cup semi-finals.

Their recent match-ups paint a clearer picture of how dominant Brazil have been against the Stars and Stripes. Their last three fixtures saw Brazil score a total of 10 goals, winning 4-1 in the past two. Their last meeting was in 2015 when Neymar hit a second-half double to spark the Brazilians.

Brazil have played a total of nine games this 2018 and compiled a 7-1-1 win-loss-draw record, with their only loss coming in the World Cup quarter-finals against Belgium. That near-perfect tally, though, suggests that the third-best team in the world remains one to be feared.

If there’s one good news for the USA, it’s the fact that their international friendly 2018 results have been positive. In five friendlies this year, they only lost once and (as mentioned earlier) even played out a draw with eventual World Cup winners France.

Betting Tip

	USA vs Brazil	USA Asian Handicap +1.25 @ 2.20
	September 08, 07:30 (GMT+8)

The SBOBET football odds on international friendly 2018 betting have the USA as massive underdogs, but it’s hard to argue given the huge difference in depth and quality between the two sides.

Nonetheless, the fact that this game is a friendly could spice things a little. While Tite will certainly play his big-name stars, it’s doubtful that he will keep them throughout. Besides, matches like this is also an opportunity for coaches to give their younger players some much-needed experience.

Their previous meetings went well in favour of Brazil, but it is important to note that the USA have made huge steps in their rebuilding efforts. The Americans, under Sarachan, have shown huge improvements on the defensive end, and that will be crucial in this match against the Selecao.

I think Brazil will win, but I predict it will be close—with a one-goal Brazil victory a likely result. That being said, I’m putting the smart money on the USA with Asian Handicap.