Confederations Cup: USA Looks Ahead to Brazil With Points In Mind

At the bottom of Group B, the United States now know they must get points from the upcoming Brazil game to advance.

Landon Donovan- USA (Mexsport)
PRETORIA, South Africa – The United States fell to Italy, 3-1, in their Confederations Cup opener on Monday night, and the difficult task ahead of them was immediately evident. The next game is Thursday against Brazil.

“Obviously, without getting a point here against Italy, we have to try to get something against Brazil,” midfielder Benny Feilhaber told Goal.com after the match. “We know their qualities. Everybody does. It will be tough.

Now sitting on the bottom of Group B, the United States is in the unenviable position of needing at least a draw against the Brazilians, who beat Egypt 4-3 earlier in the day. In reality, three points is probably required.

“That’s the reality,” said striker Landon Donovan. "I’m trying to think of scenarios where that wouldn’t be the case but we have to get something out of the game.”

But can they get something from the game? The world-class weapons Brazil possesses, including Kaka, Robinho, and Elano, make a U.S. win seem unlikely. But the squad is trying to remain as positive as possible.

“Yeah, I mean, you have to go into every game and think you can get something,” Feilhaber explained. “We went up against the World Champions tonight and had a chance to get three points with man down. Obviously it didn’t happen. It didn’t go our way in the end. But you always have to expect it to get three points, one point, whatever.”


Greg Lalas, Goal.com

Check out Goal.com's Confederations Cup page.


 
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