International Friendly: Final Copa Warm-Up for USA and Brazil

USA vs Brazil

With the 2024 Copa America less than two weeks away the tournament hosts and many pundits’ favourites are set for a late dress rehearsal, when International Friendly: USA vs Brazil is the entertainment on offer this Wednesday.

Sunny Florida is the venue for these two heavyweights to have a sparring session and the managers will have a last chance to look at their squads, while the players can stake their claims for a starting place at the Copa. 

They will arrive for this clash in contrasting moods as the hosts come into the game on the back of an almighty 5-1 thumping at the hands of Colombia last Saturday, while Brazil won a five goals thriller against Mexico. With the visitors priced as low as 1.42 to win the pre-match USA vs Brazil betting odds are pointing firmly towards an away victory and, with a stellar array of talent available I expect the South American giants to sign off with an impressive performance.    

 

Talking Points

Pulisic carries USA hopes

USA head coach Gregg Berhalter knows full well he has a world class talent in his squad and if the Stars and Stripes are to go deep into the competition they desperately need Christian Pulisic to have a great tournament. The former Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea star has had a brilliant campaign with AC Milan, scoring 15 goals, and his leadership skills, combined with exceptional talent as a winger or attacking midfielder make him a potential match-winner on any day.

With 28 goals in 67 appearances he is the standout scorer in the current squad and Pulisic can inspire the likes of PSV Eindhoven’s 21 year old striker Ricardo Pepi and his Milan team-mate Yunus Musah, also 21.

Berhalter’s side has been on an inconsistent run of late but the Stars and Stripes did win the CONCACAF Nations League final, beating Mexico 2-0 with goals from Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams and Nottingham Forest forward Giovannni Reyna. And now, as host country USA will hope to put in a serious challenge…but they need to improve on their last outing by some way.               

 

Junior has Brazil buzzing again  

After the Selecao had endured a barely believable run of three defeats Junior took over as head coach in January and he has overseen an immediate improvement, with a win over England at Wembley, a thrilling 3-3 draw with Spain and now a 3-2 victory over Mexico. So we’re back to ‘business as usual’ for the FIFA Ranked top side in the world and they will be hopeful of winning a tenth Copa America, and avenge their defeat in the 2021 final to Lionel Messi’s Argentina.    

All eyes will be on the Real Madrid forward pair of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, who have each been influential in Los Blancos’ La Liga and Champions League winning team. Both aged 23 these two have a glittering career ahead of them, with a combined 51 Selecao caps already. And this Brazil has a wealth of talent elsewhere; Arsenal’s winger Gabriel Martinelli has had a brilliant Premier League campaign, as has Bruno Guimaraes which has made him the subject of frenzied transfer speculation in the UK. 

With Manchester City’s keeper Ederson out injured the last line of defence will be Liverpool’s Alisson; but I suspect most of the action will be at the other end of the pitch.       

 

History

Stars and Stripes fans won’t look too closely at the head to head USA vs Brazil results because they are without a victory in the last ten meetings; though the last encounter was back in 2018, a 2-0 victory for Brazil.

Recent form is slightly more encouraging for the hosts who have won three of their last six games while the Selecao have won just two. But Brazil do come into the game with that encouraging win over Mexico while the USA were getting slapped by Colombia and, a full 14 places ahead in the world rankings, the Selecao should have the upper hand.    

 

Betting Tip

With the USA priced at 5.22 to win this game and 3.96 to draw this is a chance for the Copa America hosts to show what they can do against the very best; and the Double Chance, USA or Draw is at SBOTOP odds of 2.38.

But I think Brazil, with a greater depth of world class talent in their ranks, will have too much for their hosts and I expect them to make a quick start, and I don’t believe a 2-0 win to Brazil, at odds of 7.43, will be far from the mark.  

   

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