Confed Final

Been a busy few days and I haven't posted, but tomorrow should be awesome. I was (gladly) wrong for the second time in a row w/r/t the US. Everything has pretty much been said about the upset against Spain so I am just looking forward to tomorrow' rematch against Brazil. The Conmebol Champs are clearly the favorites again but there is a possibility for a shocker. The main differences I see between this game and their meeting in the group stage are: A) This American team is much more confident than it was two weeks ago. They came out against Brazil looking like they were just waiting to be down a goal and when it happened they shrunk even more. I expect an American side that will come out and fight tomorrow and not allow their opponent's identity to intimidate them. B) Carlos Bocanegra at left back. He probably would have been in the squad from the beginning if he had been healthy but he just made his first appearance of the tournmanet against Spain. Although he plays leftback at Rennes he has mostly been in the middle when in the national team shirt. Putting him wide seemed to help stop the Spanish attack and allowed the Onyewu/Demerit partnership which has been solid to continue. Maicon OWNED the right flank in the first game and although you probably can't take him out of the game entirely having Bocanegra there will help. C) Brazil are without Juan and the less experienced Luisao will be taking his place in central defense. He is a very good defender as well but if the US manage to play a ball to Altidore and he can run at him one on one, it could be the chance they need.

The US will need to be extremely mindful of details and execute to perfection. This Brazilian team pounces on mistakes and turns them into counter-attacks. They are also lethal on set-pieces. All the running and grit and hardwork the US will put in may be in vain if they lose focus for even a second. Given everything that has happened since the tournament began I expect tomorrow to be a great game. I haven't tabbed the US to win either of the last two games and that has worked out well. So I am going to say Brazil 2-1. Although I hope I am wrong. There is no team in any league or competition anywhere in the world I hate more than Brazil.