The United States begin their Kickoff Series tomorrow at MetLife Stadium as they take on Brazil. Brazil brings several of their stars from their World Cup team, while the USMNT will once again employ a very young lineup as American interim manager Dave Sarachan continues to evaluate for the future of the team. This is only the 6th match for the USMNT in 2018, but it begins a string of 6 in a row against some very tough opposition. O Pentacampeão (“The 5-Time Champions”) will present an incredible test for Sarachan’s young squad. Recent Form USA D (1-1) - France - Friendly L (1-2) - Ireland - Friendly W (3-0) - Bolivia - Friendly W (1-0) - Paraguay - Friendly D (0-0) - Bosnia and Herzegovina- Friendly Brazil L (1-2) - Belgium - 2018 World Cup Quarterfinals W (2-0) - Mexico - 2018 World Cup Round of 16 W (2-0) - Serbia - 2018 World Cup Group E W (2-0) - Costa Rica - 2018 World Cup Group E D (1-1) - Switzerland - 2018 World Cup Group E What To Watch For Keep the stars at bay. Brazil clearly has a lot of great players that can hurt you at any point: Neymar, Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, and Willian are among them. The midfield can’t let them get out into open space, and the defense can’t let any of these guys streak past them in the final third. Brazil is a team that thrives off sending numbers forward in a flashy way and looking for the spectacular. Contain their stars, and they’ll have difficulty getting shots off. Be aggressive on offense. When the attack has opportunities to shoot, they need to take them. The youngsters have been aggressive for the most part this year when they have opportunities, and that should continue against the Brazilians. If there is a weakness on this Brazil squad, it’s on defense, and they can be taken on the dribble and when crashing the net. They’re going to get some chances. Be aggressive, and we will get chances to score. Who will rise to the challenge? Like the France and Ireland games back in June, this is a prime opportunity for players to show that they deserve to be in the lineup moving forward. All 11 spots on the field are for the taking, so let’s see which players make their mark and can add a great performance to their resume. Lineup Prediction Dave Sarachan will likely go for what he thinks is his best possible lineup, and while a couple of guys may also be in the mix to start, here’s what Sarachan might go with: In net, Zack Steffen is the best of the three goalkeepers in camp and, based on his performance against France, should be the #1. The defense will be anchored by the return of John Brooks to the lineup for the first time in 10 months. He will join Matt Miazga at center back. Antonee Robinson had a few wonderful performances against Bolivia, Ireland, and France, so he gets the nod at left back. DeAndre Yedlin holds it down on the right for the United States. In the middle, Sarachan can go a few different ways here, but in the end I think he opts to present a more defensive-minded lineup. Wil Trapp will likely be the captain for the team and be the main defensive back, while Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams will be counted on to also provide defensive cover but still have the ability to move forward in the middle. On the wings, Paul Arriola is versatile enough to provide offensive fire on the right while still tracking back on defense. He’s experimented a few times at right back for D.C. United, so expect to see him back there at times while Yedlin moves forward on a run, and vice versa. On the left, Gyasi Zardes was an option due to how hot he has played this season for Columbus Crew SC, but in the end, Sarachan likely goes with Tim Weah on the left wing. But, it could go either way. Up front, the lone striker to start is Bobby Wood, but with offensive help coming from the wings and even with McKennie or Adams pressing up behind him, Wood will hopefully have some opportunities to get some shots on net. Match Prediction Make no mistake, this is a tough test for the Americans. The kids showed well against France, who went on to win the World Cup, so that can only make the team confident they can get a similar result against Brazil. Let’s go out on a limb here: it’s a great night to get a result against Brazil. It’s another 1-1 draw and fans will rave about the performance of the defense as they keep Neymar off the scoresheet. Give us your predictions for what will happen tomorrow in the comments below.<doc-sep>Neymar and Roberto Firmino scored first-half goals, and Brazil overwhelmed the United States 2-0 on Friday night in a friendly before a sparse crowd at MetLife Stadium. Firmino scored in the 11th minute after a cross from Douglas Costa, who burst down the flank and past 21-year-old left back Antonee Robinson. Neymar converted a penalty in the 44th-minute for his 58th goal in 91 international appearances, third in Brazilian history behind Pele (77) and Ronaldo (62). The US have two wins, two losses and three draws under interim coach Dave Sarachan, who took over last October after the Americans failed to qualify for the World Cup. New general manager Earnie Stewart said this week a permanent coach will be announced later this year. Just 32,469 attended the match at MetLife Stadium, a possible site of the 2026 World Cup final, and Brazilian supporters outnumbered Americans. When Brazil beat the US 2-0 at Metlife Stadium in August 2010 shortly after the venue opened, the game drew 77,223. Brazil, in their first match since a quarter-final loss to Belgium at the World Cup, improved to 18-1 against the US and have won 11 straight since a 1-0 loss in the 1998 Concacaf Gold Cup. 01:06 Brazil's Neymar responds to being labelled a 'diver' - video Playing in New Jersey for the first time since their 2-0 loss to Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifier at Red Bull Arena last September, the US did not force a save from goalkeeper Alisson until the 71st minute. All the US starters were 25 and under and the average of 23 years, 117 days was under 24 for the fifth straight match. The section of American Outlaws behind one goal held up photos of Clint Dempsey before the match in honor of the US star, who announced his retirement last month. Brazil went ahead when Firmino split defenders Matt Miazga and John Brooks and directed the ball past goalkeeper Zack Steffen for his eighth goal in 26 international appearances. The US didn’t threaten until a sequence of three corners just past the half-hour mark. Neymar converted a penalty after a debatable call by Mexican referee Fernando Guerrero, the fourth official for the US loss at Trinidad and Tobago last October that eliminated the Americans in World Cup. Fabinho played a one-two with Firmino and cut into the penalty area. Wil Trapp appeared to give him the slightest of pushes and Fabinho tumbled past Brooks. Neymar stutter-stepped in his run-up, Steffen dove to his right and the forward softly kicked the ball in the other way. Arthur, Lucas Paqueta and Richarlison made their Brazil debuts in the second half, and Dede made his first appearance in five years. The best US chance was Weston McKennie’s left-footed shot off a Kellyn Acosta pass in the 66th, which went wide. Sarachan will run the team for Tuesday’s friendly against Mexico in Nashville, Tennessee, and possibly for friendlies on 12 October against Colombia at Tampa, Florida, and versus Peru four days later at East Hartford, Connecticut. The US also play England and Italy in November.<doc-sep>
A young, inexperienced U.S. national team took its first unsteady steps toward the next World Cup on Friday. And while those baby steps weren’t always effective or attractive, they were important simply because they got the journey started. That the U.S. lost its first game of the new World Cup cycle to Brazil — 2-0 before an announced crowd of 32,489 — wasn’t a surprise. The Americans have lost 11 straight to Brazil, a national team record. But this team is measuring progress in ways that don’t show on the scoreboard. “We’re earning stripes, man,” said Wil Trapp, who wore the captain’s armband in just his seventh appearance for the national team. “This is a game where lessons are learned and they’re learned harshly. “So understanding that we’re only going to get better and we’re only going to improve from playing difficult opponents is a big step for us.” Brazil, after all, is trying to maintain a level of play that has seen it make six straight trips to World Cup quarterfinals or beyond. The U.S. is trying to rebuild after missing the tournament for the first time in 32 years. The differences in the players they fielded Friday was great as well. Brazil’s 11 starters all came from major European clubs; the U.S. lineup included four MLS players. Thirteen Brazilian players were on the team that made it to the World Cup quarterfinals this summer; 16 U.S. players entered the game with fewer than eight international caps. And while the average age of the U.S. players was 23, no Brazilian starter was younger than 24. Yet the Americans didn’t back down. “One of the things I’ve noticed in this group is that they don’t lack confidence,” said interim coach Dave Sarachan. “They still feel like, ‘OK, let’s get on with it.’ That’s an important mentality for this group.” Brazil didn’t need much time to break U.S. down, though, with Roberto Firmino losing his defender and tapping in a Douglas Costa cross in the 11th minute. Costa made the play, taking what appeared to be a harmless pass from Marquinhos near the sideline high in the U.S. end, then outrunning Antonee Robinson up the right wing. After cutting toward the penalty area he delivered a perfect feed to Firmino, who had peeled away from Matt Miazga as he entered the six-yard box. His right-footed finish was as easy as it was effective. The U.S. nearly tied the score with a dangerous flurry late in the first half that included a corner kick just out of the reach of a soaring John Brooks, a Miazga header that was blocked in front and a Weston McKennie shot off a scramble that went right at Brazilian keeper Alisson. That would be as close as the young Americans would get to making this friendly a game. When Neymar doubled Brazil’s advantage on a penalty kick in the 44th minute, the outcome was no longer in doubt. Brazil also dominated statistically, building a wide lead in time of possession and putting twice as many shots on goals. “It was a learning experience,” Robinson repeated. “We’re still a young team. We’re still getting to know each other. We haven’t played many games together. “Every game, we’ll take something from it. It’s just more experience.” The U.S. will probably continue to take its lumps while gaining that experience because it’s not playing a soft schedule. Before meeting Brazil the Americans played a French team that, five weeks later, would win the World Cup. Its next four opponents – Mexico, Colombia, Peru and England — all played in the last World Cup, unlike the U.S. “You want to challenge yourself against the best competition,” Sarachan said. “You learn from mistakes. I’d rather be playing these games than play a weak team. We don’t like to lose, but there’s lessons in losing.” kevin.baxter@latimes.com | Twitter: @kbaxter11