USA coach makes three changes in squad for Brazil friendly

Brazil brings a completely different level to the table. Last week after falling behind Peru, the Copa bronze medalists, in the 20th minute the United States took it to Los Incas and prevailed on two goals from Jozy Altidore.

Klinsmann said he wants his team to respect its competition Tuesday, but not to a fault.

“If you have too much respect for them then you can really get crushed because they sense that right away”, Klinsmann said. “We don’t want it to end up in a lesson in terms of result”. After some inconsistent play, they fell to Paraguay on penalty kicks on June 27.

BOSTON – It is rare for anyone to look past an opponent such as Brazil, but that is what the usa national team nearly has to be doing this week.

Jones played in the midfield Friday, but had played center back at times before his injury.

Jones had missed significant time this season recovering from surgery to fix a bilateral sports hernia.

Bebeto’s 72nd-minute goal accounted for all of the scoring in the round-of-16 encounter, lifting 10-man Brazil to the 1-0 win and ousting the home team. Unfortunately for Jones, not enough of his teammates were up for the same challenge he was that day.

“Being benched is not something I’m used to and I’m not willing to get used to it”, Neymar said, according to ESPN. “Be ready for going to the limit physically because they are smart”. It’s the yellow jersey and we’re backing off here, then good luck. And then we got into their face better, and stepped it up higher, and suddenly we have a game. We still have another, more than four weeks to October. 10.

“We see the situation with the fullbacks: DaMarcus Beasley not there, Fabian Johnson on the other side not there”, the coach said of the two injured veterans. Facing Brazil will be a much different proposition. “Just believing that you can play against the best in the world and actually do well against the best in the world, to build this kind of understanding and feeling is very, very important, and you only get that if you play them”. But particular focus may be placed on the defenders, and their ability to contain Brazil’s potent collection of attacking midfielders and forwards.

Prediction Brazil wins 3-1.

A key player for the USA may be Joze Altidore. The problem with that is it leaves Ream without the security blanket of having Zardes support him defensively. But Gonzalez was yanked at halftime against Peru, and on Monday Klinsmann talked up Gold Cup starter Ventura Alvarado, who replaced Gonzalez for the final 45 minutes in the nation’s capital.

What’s at stake? Momentum, just like in the Peru match.

Consider Brazil a sink-or-swim test for both central defenders. Wood and Aron Johannsson are the favorites, along with Andrew Wooten, who is still looking for his first cap. Wingback Timothy Chandler, who struggled in several US matches, is out with a knee injury. He is still young though, and one to watch, but it’s tough to see him called on to start against Brazil.

The US surprised many in the 1995 Copa America by making a run to the semifinals, one that included beating Chile and Argentina en route to a quarterfinal vs. rival Mexico. “But in this moment now, coming in, he’s a strong character, he’s also a little bit intimidating also in there, [so] maybe we need him more on the right side”.