Winners and Losers: U.S. vs. Brazil

By Noah Davis 

Another Confederations Cup game, another red card, another trifecta of goals conceded, another loss. The United States Men's National Team played its second straight match against an opponent ranked in the top five in the world, with much the same result. Although there were signs of life -- especially in the later stages -- Brazil owned the Americans from the outset and the outcome was never in doubt.  

Winners

Landon Donovan

From the opening kick, the U.S. captain ran his five-foot, nine-inch ass off. Donovan tracked back behind the ball -- he headed a free kick out of the box in the early going -- and showed a fearlessness the rest of his teammates needed to emulate. Although the Americans rarely had the ball, he worked couple nice combination plays as time wound down. The Los Angeles Galaxy star provided solid service on what few corner kicks his team won and Conor Casey nearly converted his curling free kick late in the second half. Overall, the U.S.'s best field player gave an excellent effort on a day that had too few.   

Oguchi Onyewu

"Gooch" played his second straight good match while teaming with second-choice centerback Jay Demerit. Although six goals in two fixtures is a massive total, the hulking Onyewu can't be faulted for any of them. In one-on-one situations, the defender's game has increasing subtlety and poise. With Brazil running time and time again at the American backline, the defender kept his troops organized and composed. There were breakdowns -- there will always be breakdowns in a game like this -- but they were individual mistakes or lack of hustle rather than systemic failings. Onyewu also showed he can use his massive throw ins as a weapon in the offensive third and still recover to attend to his defensive duties.  

Losers

American Offense

During the match against Italy, the U.S. played more long balls, with less success, than any other team in the tournament. The strategy was similar today, although the numbers will be lower simply because of the time of possession disparity. And guess what: The plan ain't working. Spraying the ball upfield and hoping Jozy Altidore wins it against two defenders, then has the presence of mind and skill to hold off his opponents while the U.S. runs to help him, doesn't cut it against top level competition (or, for that matter, a club team). In a tournament that is, for all intents and purposes, a warm-up for the World Cup, shouldn't the Americans be working to improve their tactics instead of reverting to what barely worked in the past? 

DaMarcus Beasley

His inclusion in the Starting XI was a surprise, one that surely drew groans from an American fanbase that believes the midfielder's best days are behind him. After his performance against Brazil, it's becoming increasingly clear that the masses are correct. A terrible turnover gifted the Samba Boys their second goal and another giveaway early resulted in a wonderful, albeit missed, chance for the U.S.'s opponents. Beasley came off at halftime, replaced by Conor Casey. It won't be the last time the midfielder takes the pitch as a member of the Red, White, and Blue, but chances are he won't get another start.  

Jonathan Spector

One of the high points of the American side on Monday struggled against Brazil. Felipe Melo beat the West Ham defender on the first goal, and while Spector was hung out to dry on the second score, the opportunity to be a hero and deflect Ramires' pass to goal scorer Robinho was there. When he did get up in the attack, passes were frequently too far ahead of him, although the U.S.'s best chance did come on a Spector overlapping run. (If the Stars and Stripes need a textbook example of how to work a fullback into the offense, the club needs look no further than Brazil's third goal, scored by Maicon.) 

Jozy Altidore

Thursday was not Altidore's best hour of play. Granted, he didn't have the service or the help he needed to succeed, but the teenager looked frustrated and uninterested. He was taken off early in the second half again, so perhaps he isn't fully game fit, but if you're the target man, you need to continue working throughout the match. Against Brazil, Altidore didn't seem to want to. 

Noah Davis covers the United States Men's National Team for Goal.com.

 For more on the U.S. National Team visit Goal.com's U.S. National Team page.