USA v Brazil Preview & Tips (31st May)

USA plays Brazil on May 31. The international friendly is scheduled to kick-off is at 00:00 GMT.

Teams News

USA

Landon Donovan’s hat-trick heroics against Scotland last time out also earned him his 125th start for the USA national side, a new record that goes with his 49 goals and 48 assists as the best ever tally for the USA men’s football team. Donovan broke the hearts of Scotland with an early 5th minute goal, completing his hat-trick with a 60th and 65th minute brace.

Juerguen Klinsmann couldn’t be any happier with his team’s performance against the Scots. Klinsman pointed out the Americans’ good play in midfield, praising the rhythm they created that lead to good chances and stifled Scotland on the defensive end. Against Brazil this Thursday Klinsman will be praying that his team performs at an equal level, if not better.

Brazil

The 2014 World Cup hosts welcome Neymar back this Thursday to lead the lines against the USA. Neymar missed the team’s 3-1 win against Denmark, and should be replacing Lucas in this game. He is seen to be playing alongside Hulk who scored a brace against the Danes.

The small changes could prove vital according to Mano Menezes. He is after all trying out a number of combinations that could probably take the gold in the London Olympics. After London, it’s going to be a long queue of tune-up games for the Samba Boys. They are after all hosting the big event and will need no qualifying campaign to get a chance to win the trophy. The pressure nevertheless will be burdening Brazil; the national team really can’t lose playing in front of a Brazilian crowd and with home advantage at that.

USA v Brazil Betting Preview

Brazil is a lot different from Scotland and whatever it is that USA showed against the Scots could significantly change when they will be up against the Brazilians. Head-to-head the odds are stacked against eh Americans too – they have never on against Brazil in their last six meetings. The Americans almost stole one in 2009 however, in a Confederations Cup Final Stage game when they led by two goals after 27 minutes. After that, three goals from Brazil in the second half of that game broke the hearts of the USA national side.

Betting Tip

Verdict: Brazil to win this one convincingly, 3-1.

Tip:

The likelihood of Brazil winning this game is so high that they are at 8/11 to claim a victory. A 3-1 score-line is tipped at 12/1, a possible repeat of the same score-line they had against Denmark. Whenever Brazil is playing, you always get that feeling that it will be a goal-fest. So expect this game to go over 2.5 goals at 3/4.

All odds are from Bet365.com (£200 FREE BET!).