Brazil | VS
| Mexico |
| Date/Time: | Aug 18, 2011, 1:00 am(GMT) |
| Competition: | FIFA U-20 World Cup |
| Live/Repeat: | Live |
Top scorers meet surprise package
Wednesday's meeting between Brazil and Mexico in Pereira promises to be a thrilling and worthy semi-final at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia 2011. Both teams came through their quarter-finals in convincing fashion, even if the Brazilians were taken as far as a penalty shoot-out by Spain.
The game
Brazil-Mexico, Pereira, Wednesday 17 August, 17.00 (local time)
The stakes
The teams have met three times at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the past, with the honours even so far. The first clash came in 1977 at the inaugural U–20 tournament in Tunisia, and that too was a semi–final, where the Mexicans came out on top courtesy of a 5–3 shoot-out victory. The teams drew 2–2 in Porto 14 years later, with Brazil winning 2–1 in Adelaide two years after that in 1993.
The quarter-final clash between A Seleçãozinha and Spain was a genuine thriller between two sides committed to attack. The South Americans twice took the lead but ultimately edged into the last four on penalties, with in-form keeper Gabriel saving two Spanish spot-kicks. For their part, the Brazil juniors converted all four of their penalties, and will surely be confident should the semi-final go to the sudden-death elimination stage.
Wednesday's match will be the South Americans’ 11th appearance in the semi-finals in their 17th tilt at the global crown. In complete contrast, Mexico have only made the last four on one previous occasion. Brazil are now unbeaten in their last 12 matches at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, their last defeat coming at the 2007 edition in Canada, when they fell 4–2 to Spain in the Round of 16.
In the Brazilians’ five matches so far in Colombia, Dudu has earned himself the coveted ‘super sub’ mantle with three goals after entering the fray from the bench. The sharp-shooter has clocked up a total of 179 minutes’ playing time, giving him a strike rate of one goal per hour on the field.
Silverware is of course always demanded of Brazil, but the Mexicans could be even more motivated on this occasion, as victory in the final would crown a magnificent recent streak for the nation's footballers. The most junior national team won this year's FIFA U-17 World Cup in front of their home crowd, and the seniors came away with the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, so the U-20 trophy would round off a glorious summer for the Mexican game.
In truth, the Mexican U-20 side made a muted start to the showdown in Colombia, with only one win, against Korea DPR, at the group stage, and a nervy Round of 16 victory over Cameroon on penalties. However, they seem to have peaked at the right time, after going into the quarter-finals as underdogs against the exuberant hosts but recording a fine and fully merited 3-1 triumph.
In one respect, El Tri’s second appearance in the last four is already one for the record books, as they will move onto 49 matches at the FIFA U-20 World Cup and overtake long-term rivals USA as the CONCACAF nation with the most games in the history of the tournament.
The stat
13 - Brazil have scored 13 goals in Colombia so far, the best total of all four teams still in the tournament. Their five-match haul is more than four times as many as the Portuguese, who have reached the same stage after scoring just three goals in normal and extra time. For the Brazilians, Henrique, Philippe Coutinho and Dudu are all on three goals apiece.
The words
“We face a huge test now, because we're playing Brazil. They're exceptionally difficult opponents and they play extremely good football. We watched them against Spain, and we're ready for them. We'll need to be focused and we'll have to give our all. We'll concentrate on playing as a team, just as we've done all the way so far,” Mexico midfielder Hector Acosta.
“Mexico are nothing at all like Spain. They use a completely different set of tactics and a different formation, but they are a really good team. They combine extremely well and also have a handful of genuinely top-class individuals. And they'll be bursting with confidence after beating hosts Colombia, because it wasn't a game they were expected to win. They'll definitely make it very difficult for us,” Brazil coach Ney Franco.
People like to say that there is no such thing as a friendly between the United States and Mexico. That may be true, to a degree, but Wednesday's friendly in Philadelphia, PA between the two was going to be decidedly friendly and rather uninteresting. The two teams just played in the Gold Cup final in June and the friendly couldn't live up to that, while CONCACAF reinstating the "hex" for World Cup qualifying means two important matches between the two are on the horizon. The friendly was just going to be like any other qualifier.
That is until the U.S. fired head coach Bob Bradley less than two weeks ago and replaced him with Jurgen Klinsmann. The Americans have a big name manager in charge now and will be immediately challenged by El Tri. All of a sudden Wednesday's match is the first look at the new U.S. regime, giving the match an intrigue that it previously lacked.
One reason that that the U.S. made a change and brought Klinsmann in is because Mexico has jumped so far ahead of them in the race to be CONCACAF's top team. The Mexicans have won the past three matches between the two rivals, including a 4-2 victory more dominating than the scoreline would suggest in the Gold Cup final. Mexico also only figures to get better with a young core of attackers led by Giovani dos Santos, Javier Hernandez, Pablo Barrera and Andres Guardado.
That leaves the U.S. trying to play catch up in a time they have reached a transition period in their talent pool. Older stalwarts like Carlos Bocanegra and Steve Cherundolo are on the wrong side of 30, the only dependably attacking forces, Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan, are creeping up on 30 and there aren't any established players to replace them.
Klinsmann will be challenged to find a way to bridge the gap by either keeping some of the older guys at top form for a little while longer or hastening the development of some of the younger guys like Tim Ream, Omar Gonzalez, Timothy Chandler, Eric Lichaj, Juan Agudelo, Mikkel Diskeruud and Brek Sheak. Not all of those players are on the roster for the Mexico friendly, but some are as Klinsmann tries to revamp a team in a lull.
In all of his interviews since being hired, Klinsmann has made it clear that he wants his team to play a more attacking brand of soccer than they have in recent years. The friendly against Mexico will provide the first look at this new and improved attacking side. Based on the players he named to the team it looks like he could come out in a 4-3-3 formation geared to fly forward.
Some have argued that the U.S. do not have the personnel to play such attack-minded soccer. They have had enough problems defending in more conservative formations, but Klinsmann appears committed. This is his team and he expects them to attack. It could very well be a disaster. After all, you can only do as much as your players will allow for and the U.S. may not have the players to get it done, but the German thinks the U.S. can do it. Step one in learning whether or not they can starts Wednesday.
One thing that will make things easier on the U.S. defenders is the absence of Chicharito, who was left off the team after suffering a concussion with Manchester United. With nearly the entire first team on the roster though, the Americans will have a tough go of it.
Of course, Klinsmann is facing unrealistic expectations. His big name status and the U.S. Soccer Federation's long flirtation with him have raised expectations beyond what the weak U.S. player pool will allow. Mexico are better than the Americans, but that won't stop many fans from expecting the U.S. to give the Mexicans a good go.