Confederations Cup Final: Brazil v. USA. Sunday, 2:25 ET, ESPN.

I'd planned to do a big write-up of the Spain game -- I even watched parts of it again and took notes. But with the kids, I'm too tired and too harried to do it. So instead we get a post about tomorrow's huge match against the most famous soccer team in the world; and, just so you know, I was devoted enough to watched the group-stage Brazil loss again. Which was painful.

In the first Brazil game, Kljestan and Beasley started. They were so bad that, in all candor, it was like we had nine men. No wonder the Selecao owned us so badly (and it could have been a lot higher than 2-0 in that half). On Sunday, because of a preposterous late red card, we're trading the banned Bradley for Feilhaber (which, as much as I like Feilhaber, is not ideal, because Bradley is a tireless two-way player, less variable in his performance, and stronger defensively). However, we're also getting Clark and Davies for Beasley and Kljestan. That's a huge improvement. Both men are fast and aggressive (and in different parts of the field). We're also getting Bocanegra over Bornstein, which is probably an improvement. I say probably because I don't know Boca's injury status. He could have a broken leg and simply be lying to Bradley about it. He did look a little gimpy during the Spain game, truth be told.

Other note: I still think that we should start Adu in place of Davies, as a withdrawn striker, because Adu's ability to penetrate, hold the ball, and draw defenders helps against a team like Brazil; it provides a nice outlet to relieve Brazil's forward pressure. But I digress. There's no way Adu will start or even see any minutes, for that matter. Same goes for Torres. I just hope to God Bradley doesn't throw on Kljestan or Beasley late. Against, Brazil, that's as close to an automatic loss as there is.

Brazil is big, strong, fast, and good on the ball -- but unlike past Brazil teams, they don't cohere as beautifully as say, Spain. Almost Chelsea-like, under Dunga they play very strong defense -- with world-class players -- and then attack on the counter and set-pieces. Two years ago, Brazil outmuscled Argentina in the Copa final, 3-0, by playing thick, foul-happy defense and scoring on counter attacks. Messi spent half the game on the ground.

The key to playing well against them mark them very closely everywhere and not cede control of the midfield. If you're Zidane, then you control the midfield with once-in-a-generation ability and win decisively. If you're Egypt and South Africa, then you mark tightly, battle heroically in the midfield, and lose a close match. If you're the United States...you try not to put two worthless players on the field, and see what happens.

As Jake Taylor said to Ricky Vaughn (at 9:18) almost twenty years ago, "This guy's the out you've been waiting your whole life for." Boys, if you win this match, soccer in America will never, ever, be the same.

FF