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Top-ranked Spain awaits surprise U.S. team
AP Sports Writer
Photo by PAUL THOMAS/AP
U.S. national team captain Landon Donovan, foreground, practices with team members during
a training session at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa on Tuesday.
From a football standpoint, it's a great challenge, but we couldn't be more excited.
- Bob Bradley, U.S. head coach
"The team is on a high for sure," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said Tuesday. "From a football standpoint, it's a great challenge, but we couldn't be more excited for this chance."
The United States is 0-3 against Spain, losing 3-1 in the first round of the 1950 World Cup, 2-0 in a 1992 exhibition at Valladolid and 1-0 in an exhibition on June 4 last year at Santander, when Xavi Hernandez beat backup goalkeeper Brad Guzan with a low shot in the 79th minute.
"They have less pressure. They have nothing to lose. For them, it's a positive that we assume the title of favorite, the responsibility and the pressure," Spanish midfielder Xavi Hernandez said. "We assume the mantle of favorites, but it won't be an easy match. Not at all."
Spain, the European champion, has set an international record with 15 consecutive victories and will be trying to stretch its unbeaten streak to a record 36, breaking the mark set by Brazil from December 1993 to January 1996.
Brazil's streak includes a loss on penalty kicks to Uruguay in the 1995 Copa America final, which is considered a tie in FIFA's records.
"A big part of playing them is not getting frustrated because you don't have the ball," Landon Donovan said. "The other side of that is trying to put them under pressure."
After losing 3-1 to world champion Italy and 3-0 to South American champion Brazil, the 14th-ranked United States reached the semis with a 3-0 victory over African champion Egypt as Brazil beat the Azzurri 3-0. The winner of today's game advances to the final against Brazil or host South Africa on Sunday, while the loser goes to the third-place match the same day.
FIFA said there were about 6,000 tickets still on sale for the match at the 38,000-seat Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
"There will be a certain number of tickets given on a complimentary basis," FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot said.
The U.S. is 1-7-1 against top-ranked teams, beating Brazil in the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup, losing to Brazil seven times and tying Argentina on June 8 last year during a downpour at Giants Stadium.
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