Comparison of US and Mexico Performances Against Brazil (R)

[DirtyJerzey]

With the US losing 2-4 and Mexico losing 1-3 against the best team in the world, I thought it would interesting to start a thread that compares the performances of the two premier CONCACAF powers.

US - BRAZIL STATS

US outshot Brazil 11-9
US had more cornerkicks 5-3
Brazil forced more saves 3-2
US outhacked Brazil with 19-13 in fouls
Total of 3 yellows, and 0 reds given out in the match
And of course Brazil scored more goals :rolleyes:4-2

Lineups

USA: 1-Tim Howard; 6-Steve Cherundolo, 22-Oguchi Onyewu, 3-Carlos Bocanegra (capt.), 2-Heath Pearce (21-Davy Arnaud, 86); 4-Michael Bradley, 5-Benny Feilhaber (15-Bobby Convey, 70), 10-Landon Donovan, 7-DaMarcus Beasley; 16-Josh Wolff (9-Eddie Johnson, 70); 8-Clint Dempsey

BRA: 1-Doni; 2-Maicon (13-Daniel Alves, 64), 3-Lucio (capt.), 4-Juan (14-Edu Dracena, 46), 6-Gilberto; 5-Mineiro, 8-Gilberto Silva; 7-Kaká (20-Julio Baptista, 70), 11-Robinho (19-Elano, 78), 10-Ronaldinho (21-Diego, 85); 9-Afonso (22-Vagner Love, 64)


MEXICO - BRAZIL STATS

Honestly, I couldn't find a boxscore for the match :o.
I saw that Ochoa had 11 saves so add that to the three goals scored that mean Brazil must've had at least 14 shots :eek: on target.

Total of 5 yellows, 1 red handed out during the match.

Lineups

Mexico: 1.- Guillermo Ochoa, 2.- Jonny Magallón, 3.- Carlos Salcido, 4.- Rafael Márquez, 5.- Israel Castro, 6.- Gerardo Torrado (20.-Luis Ángel Landín 88’), 7.- Fernando Arce, 8.- Jaime Correa, 9.- Juan Carlos Cacho (16.- Giovani Dos Santos 73’), 10.- Nery Castillo (21.- Carlos Vela 73’), 11.- Andrés Guardado.

Brazil: 1.- Julio Cesar, 2.- Daniel Alves (13.- Maicon 59’), 3.- Lucio, 4.- Eduardo Souza, 5.- Mineiro, 6.- Kleber (16.- Gilberto 75’), 7.- Kaka (22.- Alfonso 81’), 8.- Gilberto Silva (18.- Josue 75´), 9.- Vagner Love (19.- Elano 55’), 10.- Ronaldinho, 11.- Robinho (20.- Baptista 81’)

Analysis

Its hard to compare without the stats from the Brazil-Mexico match, but it seems like both games fielded close to A-squads.

Mexico gave up at least twice as many shots on goal, which suggest that A) our defense played better, B) Brazil played better, or C) a combination of both.

I didn't get a chance to watch Mexico-Brazil either, so any feedback would be appreciated!

[fooism]

My first BS post ever, but I was at the Brazil/Mexico so I figure I'll chip in my thoughts.

Honestly I think we gave Brazil a much better game. Mexico tried to clog up the middle of the field and let their wings do the damage. I felt that we actually tried to play with Brazil and as a result the game was much more action-packed, up and down the field. Despite Mexico's clogging tactics they gave Brazil way too much time on the ball and as a result Brazil had no problem getting shots or scoring from run of play. Our high-pressure limited Brazil's time and the only time we really got totally torched was on Gooch's own goal. Interestingly enough I thought we were able to build attacks much better back to front much better than Mexico as well. Mexico was so anemic on offense that they were barely able to string attacks together whereas we had quite a few good sequences against them. Ironically enough I think the players Mexico needed were one's like the controversial Bradley and Feilhaber, criticize them all you want but for the most part they were able to play with Brazil's midfield and withstand their pressure enough to get us in our offense. Mexico could barely get the ball off of Brazil's midfield. One area in which Brazil dominated both Mexico and us was on deadball plays, they had people open all day against Mexico just like they did against us.

For the all the Bradley criticizers... if Arena had been coaching, our game would have been very similar to the one Mexico played. FWIW I think we played much much better than Mexico and I like the direction. My only quibbles with Bradley are that his style gets players gassed at the end, and he needs to give more people chances in key spots (Bradley, Bornstein, Gooch all need competition for their spots).

[Bruce S]

I saw both games. Mexico did more bunkering. It was Mexico catenaccio, and it did not work.

[gmonn]

In comparing the games we have to take into account that Brazil and Mexico have a rivalry. Mexico had won the last two games (as I remember) and Brazil was up for this one. Dunga was gloating after the game (and was red-carded during the game). We also did better against Brazil than Argentina did recently, for what it's worth. I think Kaka's comment about our game being a good training session shows how motivated they were against us, unfortunately.

[tehGEO]

Mexico's back line is pretty poor, but their attack is going to be deadly in the years to come I think...

And that keeper of theirs is going to keep them in a lot of games.

[FW__]

I think we looked better and more dangerous and if it wasn't for Ochoa (that's Mexico's keeper right?) Mexico loses 5 or 6-1. Everyone says Brazil was going to give more effort against Mexico but to me it looked like Brazil was sleepwalking through a lot of the Mexico match.

[uclacarlos]

Mexico also gave up 2 goals while up a man.

Overall, I think we slightly outperformed them. Nothing major.

[IndividualEleven]

Thought the Selecao played majorly on the down tempo against us. They turned on the style when we looked like doing something. And we had a hard arse time getting the ball off of them for extended intervals as well. The motivation level was going to be higher against a budding rival like Mexico.

[sidefootsitter]

Mexico gave up a goal off a corner when their defenders went to sleep (sounds familiar?).

Mexico gave up a late goal (sounds familiar?).

Mexico (Marquez) handed Brazil a goal (sounds familiar?)

Sanchez played defensively and must have been really been depressed by the tying goal just before the half-time (off the corner).

What hurt him here was that neither Guardado (marked by Maicon) nor Castillo (Lucio) had much room to operate.

And when you're playing with three offensive players and two of them are taken out of the game, there's not much left.

Mexico created two good scoring chances and converted one. Brazil created at least half a dozen, many off set-pieces (sounds familiar?)

This Mexican team lacked the size and speed of the American squad and Sanchez played this one very close to the vest.

One noteable difference from Lavolpe's teams was the absence of a target striker. Without that, the Mexican re-starts suffered.

I thoguht the US gave Brazil a tougher match but, in all honesty, Brazil half-assed another one. At one point, Dunga had Kaka on top as his lone striker in the Christmas Tree.

Booooooring.

[...In my defense]

My .02 cents:

The game itself was very entertaining with Brazil playing beautiful, fluid ball and Mexico pressuring and waiting for their chance to attack. Hugo's tactics backfired on him once again and if he doesn't learn from his mistakes the team will suffer losses like this one (or the GC Final) time and time again.

I watched both games and I can honestly tell you that Brazil came to play against Mexico, not to say they didn't against the US but it's very clear that they put a little more effort into beating Mexico. Not trying to disrespect the US team or their fans but even Kaka mentioned that it was good "practice" for them since the qualifiers are around the corner.

As to how both teams fared, well it's pretty obvious, they both lost by 2 goals and in both games the game was close enough where either team could've taken the W. Actually both games were close up until the last 10-15 mins.

Brasil did their homework and close down Guardado a lot of times although he managed to move around and make some plays. Nery Castillo was almost invisible but he tried some moves and made a couple plays including the pass to Guardado who then set up Cacho for the opening score.

Hugo's Formation is a very defensive one with two defensive midfielders in Correa and Torrado who did an excellent job of running after the ball, cutting off pass lanes, and crowding the midfield to limit Ronnie and Kaka but they contributed almost nothing offensively. (Here is where the US has an advantage, your center midfield pairing of Bradley and Feilhaber is going to pay dividends down the road if you can get them experience. I think Mexico has better players in all other positions though.)

As for Vela and Dos Santos, well, by the time they came in Brazil had regained the ball after Mexico held possesion and tried a few scoring chances for about 15 mins (this was the time when I thought Mexico might sneak one in) and almost as soon as they came on Brazil scored the winner, although If you watched them carefully you could deffinitely see that these 2 kids are the future for Mexico. I was mostly impressed by Vela, he did alright with the few minutes he had and even created a nice play by the corner flag where he flicked the ball over a defender and then broke another guy coming towards him if i remember correctly.

I'm not going to say that Mexico played better because obviously they were two completely different games but I think that the US deffinitely proved it can play against the big boys.

Sorry for the rant,

Cheers

:)

[KALM]

How often has Mexico played Brazil's first choice squad in the past few years like they did on Wednesday?

[Ombak]

How often has Mexico played Brazil's first choice squad in the past few years like they did on Wednesday?In the last five games, (that I can remember off the top of my head), 4 times: 0x0 friendly, 2x0 Mexico win in Copa America (minus only Kaká and ronaldinho), 1x0 Mexico win in the Confed Cup and this game. The other one I remember in the last three years was the 4x0 Brazil win in Copa America 04.

[Elninho]

My .02 cents:

(Here is where the US has an advantage, your center midfield pairing of Bradley and Feilhaber is going to pay dividends down the road if you can get them experience. I think Mexico has better players in all other positions though.)


Interesting thought... this may be the first time that we've ever been described as having an advantage in central midfield over Mexico. And with Bradley and Feilhaber both in Europe, and Bradley already starting for a UEFA Cup team, I think they're both going to develop well as long as they can stay healthy.

Anyway, given the events of our match vs Brazil, where late in the game we could have had a 3-2 lead and a man advantage had the referee actually made the correct calls... I think our match was a closer one than Mexico's.

[nobody]

So, we wanna argue about which team got their ass kicked by 2 goals the best?

[DaPrince84]

So, we wanna argue about which team got their ass kicked by 2 goals the best?
its the US fans way :rolleyes:

[Scott e Dio93]

Well, the US had some calls not being "called". But, mexico had a younger team than US. In way, I felt the US at least shoud draw
( with all old players), while, mexico already debuted Vela and Dos Santos.

When will Altidore and Adu will start? The US two new guys on top for the attack.

[Shaster]

Well, the US had some calls not being "called". But, mexico had a younger team than US. In way, I felt the US at least shoud draw
( with all old players), while, mexico already debuted Vela and Dos Santos.

When will Altidore and Adu will start? The US two new guys on top for the attack.

Bradley is in the same age group as Vela and Dos Santos, and he played more minutes than those two.

Zizzo and Adu played for very short time too, only Altidore is on waiting list.

[vancity eagle]

only saw the US game, but keep in mind

1. The US had home advantage, Mexico did not
2. Brazil has a heated rivalry with Mexico that doesn't exist with the US. Brazil have been embarassed by Mexico in the past so I gaurantee they came all out against Mexico while saving themselves in the US match, where they had absolutely nothing to prove. Like Kaka said, "it was a good training"

I am surprised at some who believe the game should have been a draw. US were clearly outclassed. They had absolutely no ball possesion in the entire first half. US improved late in the second half, but they were certainly not going toe to toe with Brazil like some on this board suggest. The Americans gave it their all, while Brazil turned it on and off in flashes. However at times the US did seem to frustrate Brazil in the second half, they seem to be at their best when they play a real physical game trying to outhustle their opponents. This is the strength of the USMNT.

[KALM]

only saw the US game, but keep in mind

1. The US had home advantage, Mexico did not
2. Brazil has a heated rivalry with Mexico that doesn't exist with the US. Brazil have been embarassed by Mexico in the past so I gaurantee they came all out against Mexico while saving themselves in the US match, where they had absolutely nothing to prove. Like Kaka said, "it was a good training"

I am surprised at some who believe the game should have been a draw. US were clearly outclassed. They had absolutely no ball possesion in the entire first half.

I'm guessing that some people believe that the game should have been a draw because the winning goal came off of this phantom foul (which came shortly after the US was denied a clear penalty on the other end of the field):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXT5PqY-4xE

And with the makeup of the crowd at both games, I wouldn't say that the US had that much of a home field advantage over Mexico in their game.

[argaen]

only saw the US game, but keep in mind

1. The US had home advantage, Mexico did not
2. Brazil has a heated rivalry with Mexico that doesn't exist with the US. Brazil have been embarassed by Mexico in the past so I gaurantee they came all out against Mexico while saving themselves in the US match, where they had absolutely nothing to prove. Like Kaka said, "it was a good training"

I am surprised at some who believe the game should have been a draw. US were clearly outclassed. They had absolutely no ball possesion in the entire first half. US improved late in the second half, but they were certainly not going toe to toe with Brazil like some on this board suggest. The Americans gave it their all, while Brazil turned it on and off in flashes. However at times the US did seem to frustrate Brazil in the second half, they seem to be at their best when they play a real physical game trying to outhustle their opponents. This is the strength of the USMNT.

Honestly, when was the last time that "home advantage" applied to a game the US mens national played in? The T&T game in the gold cup maybe? I seriously can't remember. Oh and whenever Mexico plays anyone in the US they have home field advantage. To say otherwise is a serious joke.