[retired_jdupont]

Brazil vs Mexico next Wednesday (21:25, BrasÃ*lia time).

Does anyone think we'll be beaten again by them?

[retired_ashc21]

I think we'll improve on our last performance since the team will be allowed to do some more training. And Mexico isn't as physical as the USA, so, despite they having beat us several times in the last few matches, I reckon we should win this one as well.

Also it's only a friendly, so Mexican players probably won't be as fired up as Nery Castillo was when he tore our defence to pieces in the Copa América

I hope The Beast starts this one, but it's hard to say who should be dropped for him..

[retired_jdupont]

Brazil, Mexico ready for serious match

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - Tom Brady has nothing to worry about, but Stephen Gostkowski, the New England Patriots kicker, might.

Brazil's national team didn't look much like quarterbacks when players playfully lined up as American football players on Gillette Stadium's wet practice field Tuesday, but they booted soccer balls through the uprights from 35 yards out with ease.
Their Mexican counterparts, inside the Gillette Stadium field house, nailed 50-yarders.

The stress-free atmosphere highlights that fact that Wednesday night's game between Brazil and Mexico is an exhibition. Brazil's next game will be its World Cup qualifying opener, at Colombia on Oct. 16.

"We're going to prepare for this game seriously and we hope to be leaving here with one more victory," said Ronaldinho, the FIFA player of the year in 2004 and 2005.

Top-ranked Brazil, coming off Sunday's 4-2 victory over the United States, is in the midst of a streak of 28 consecutive road international games that won't end until Oct. 20, its first home qualifier for the 2010 World Cup. Ronaldinho, who plays for Barcelona, wasn't complaining. Close to 60,000 tickets have been sold for Wednesday.

"It's a great privilege to play here in the States," he said. "It's very exciting to play out here in front of such a large crowd."

Mexico hasn't lost to Brazil in three years, winning 2-0 in the first round of the Copa America in June following a 1-0 victory during the Confederations Cup in 2005. Mexico is 6-1-2 in its last nine meetings with Brazil.

"Playing against Brazil gives us extra motivation," said defender Rafael Marquez, Ronaldinho's Barcelona teammate.

Mexico won't start World Cup qualifying until June, yet Marquez said it's important for the team to jell now.

"For us it's a new team, young players," he said. "This is more or less going to be the base of the team as we start preparing for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers."

Among the young players is 18-year-old forward Giovani Dos Santos, who earned his first selection for a Mexican national team roster when he was chosen by coach Hugo Sanchez for the games against Panama and Brazil.

Dos Santos, son of Brazilian native and former Mexican League veteran Zizinho, was a key member of the Mexican team that won the Under-17 World Cup in 2005 and earned the bronze ball at this year's Under-20 World Cup.

"Its always important to play teams like this, like Brazil, with all their stars," said Dos Santos, who also plays for Barcelona.

Brazil, a five-time World Cup champion, is making its first appearance in Foxborough, and just its second in New England.

Kaka, who could be voted FIFA player of the year this year, is with the team but Brazil coach Dunga said he hasn't decided who will play. The team practiced for about an hour, the last half of which in a spirited scrimmage on a shortened field.

"Everybody can play," he said, but noted that he'll check players' conditions Wednesday before making final decisions. Some players were tired after playing in the heat Sunday in Chicago.

Dunga also said he'll check the condition of the field, which is grass installed atop artificial turf, before deciding his lineup. It rained for most of Tuesday.

With last-minute ticket sales, the game could set a soccer attendance record at Gillette Stadium, topping the 61,316 who attended the 2002 MLS Cup.

Brazil's only other New England appearance was in a 2-0 victory over the United States on June 6, 1993, in New Haven, Conn. Mexico last played in Foxborough in 1997, a 2-2 draw with the United States in a World Cup qualifier.

[retired_jdupont]

Probable line-ups (according to the Brazilian media):


MEXICO: Guillermo Ochoa; Johnny Magallón, Rafael Márquez, Julio César DomÃ*nguez and Carlos Salcido; Gerardo Torrado, Jaime Correa, Fernando Arce and Andrés Guardado; Giovanni dos Santos and Nery Castillo

Head Coach: Hugo Sanchéz


BRAZIL: Doni; Maicon, Lucio, Juan and Gilberto; Mineiro, Gilberto Silva, Kaká and Ronaldinho; Robinho and Afonso

Head Coach: Dunga



Let's see if Giovanni dos Santos is really good, as he will play against a real team, not against the pub teams he find in Spain.


The match starts at 21:36 (BrasÃ*lia time).

[retired_Rosangela carv]

Pub teams

Is this just another friendly btw?

[retired_jdupont]

Originally posted by Crazy_T:
Pub teams

Is this just another friendly btw?

Yes, it's another friendly, our last one before the WC Quals game against Colombia (which will be played in October).

So, despite the fact it's a friendly game, it's still a very important game for us.

[retired_ashc21]

Giovanni dos Santos
He destroyed Brazil youth team (U-17 IIRC) once, so it's, once more again, revenge time

[retired_jdupont]

Originally posted by masteR+_+:
Giovanni dos Santos
He destroyed Brazil youth team (U-17 IIRC) once, so it's, once more again, revenge time

We should break his leg to make him learn not to beat us.

[retired_DonWon]

Vela on the bench?

[retired_jdupont]

Originally posted by Father Senegal:
Vela on the bench?

I think so.