Is that opportunity knocking?

As the Confederations Cup championship match looms, the CounterAttack is getting bored with all the talk of “miracle” about the US victory over Spain.

The American media, which doesn’t pay attention to soccer, has no idea how good its Men’s National Team is. The foreign media, on the other hand, is still stuck in 1998.

Fair enough. After all, the MNT performances are not anything you can call consistent. In order for the US to gain the proper respect it should receive, it needs to start win the matches is has to, dominate the sides it should beat, and if necessary, lose while playing smart, attractive football.

The loss to Italy was a tough one. Playing a man down for an hour, the US actually had the better play most of the first hour. Against Brazil, though, it reverted to history. Carlos Bocanegra, captain and a defensive anchor, admitted the US “came out a bit timid”, bedazzled by the canary yellow shirts.

Against Egypt, the team buried three opportunities created in the run of play. Similarly against Spain, the MNT played to its potential, scoring when it could, creating opportunities without leaving itself exposed, and creating a defensive wall that the Spaniards could not breach.

But which is the real US team? Earlier this year the MNT scored late goals to save a point in a World Cup qualifier against El Salvador. This was a positive but the need for a comeback was an indictment in itself. Then a WCQ against Costa Rica, where the hostile crowd, artificial turf and better-prepared Ticos took apart the MNT.

A review of MNT World Cup performances: 0 victories (1990), second round (1994), 0 victories (1998), quarterfinals (2002), 0 victories (2006). The last two Cups were formed around young players still on the MNT, so the shutout in Germany was so devastatingly disappointing. Taken together, the question remains: When will the real US Mens team show up?

So when a Dutch friend asked for a prediction of how the US would do against Brazil, the CounterAttack deferred. The US can win this match, make no mistake. The first five minutes will tell all. If the MNT comes out cocky, it will get careless and there will be a replay of Brazil’s 3-0 win two weeks ago. The key, as ever, is the midfield. If the MNT can stall Brazil in the midfield, it could upset the Brazilian rhythm. Not having Michael Bradley will be a problem, so Rico Clark will have to play intelligent ball again. It will likely be Benny Feilhaber with Clark, but Feilhaber has to step up and play like its 2007, not his recent injury-plagued form.

Brazil has individual talents that can win matches on their own. The US will need to be vigilant against individual breakaways. The problem is that chasing down a Kaka or Robinho could open up holes that trailing Brazilians will fill. A drop-off pass, an exposed hole in the back, and a goal is sure to come.

Brazil is also tough because it has strength and size to match its skill. The US will be hard pressed to create openings and find opportunities. The MNT has to do what all good teams do when pressed: one-touch football, cross in and out of the wings, shoot from distance when a window opens, and press without losing defensive shape. Simple, no?

The CounterAttack expects the defence to maintain its qualtiy play. DeMerit, Boca, Gooch and Spector are a formidable back line. All play in Europe and know how to handle sophisticated attacks. Staying in a flat back formation, however, will gift too many opportunities to Brazil. The backs need to defend high, above the penalty area, but ready to sprint back if a Brazilian breaks through. Pushing a high line would also allow the midfield to play higher, which could disrupt the Brazilian flow.

Feeding the ball to Landon and Dempsey, the US has to force Brazil to come out to defend. For whatever reason, Bob Bradley has decided not to use JF Torres, an adept ball handler, but Bradley can hardly risk a new partnership in a championship match. So the midfielders need to hold onto the ball because giveaways will sink the squad.(Incidentally, one drools over a Jermaine Jones-Michael Bradley partnership that would present quite a formidable midfield.)

Based on tournament form, there are no concerns about Altidore and Davies. Could the US have created a prolific partnership? Davies is the Energizer bunny to Altidore’s more traditional striker play. Jozy showed against Spain that even close man-marking is not enough to stop the 19-year-old. There was enough power and swerve on the shot against Iker Casillas that getting a hand on the ball could not stop it. Against Brazil, Altidore will have to be more selfish, hone a predatory instinct that has resulted in seven goals in just 15 international matches.

Ironically a win would not mean much to the US preparation for next year’s World Cup. The press and TV claim this is the first FIFA championship game for the US but four Gold Cup medals beg to differ. Put it this way: Spain has never made it to a “FIFA championship match” either, by that definition. Win or lose, a strong performance will have a much longer effect than a simple win. Let’s not forget that in tournament play, results do not need to mean good performances.

So playing to potential again, followed by dominating performances in WCQ matches and warmup friendlies, will do more to improve the MNT standings among the world’s elite sides. It would help get some bandwaggoners to start watching US games. And maybe MLS will stop scheduling matches on days when the MNT plays.

Ah, who are we kidding? Pardon the unprofessional emotion but the CounterAttack wants a win. That would stick it to Jim Rome and Giuseppe Rossi.

What can we say? Soccer is all about passion....

Photo via Chris Brunskill/isiphotos.com, @ USSoccer.com