FanHouse Brazil

For about 85 minutes Thursday it looked like lady luck would shine her fortune upon the underdogs for the second consecutive day at the Confederations Cup semifinals. Host South Africa was giving powerhouse Brazil all it could handle, continuously stymieing the five-time world champions all across the field in Johannesburg.

Yet it all came crashing down in an instant for the determined Bafana Bafana thanks to a moment of brilliance generated off the foot of Brazil sub Dani Alves, who had only entered the match a few minutes earlier. The Barcelona back curled in a perfect free kick in the 87th minute around the South African wall to push Brazil to a 1-0 victory and a date with the United States in Sunday's final.

When the draw for the 2009 Confederations Cup took place a couple months ago, American soccer fans circled the date June 18. Why? One word: Brazil. It's just not every day you get to play against the team most consider the best team in the world.

The U.S., which looked good for a half vs. Italy on Monday (and terrible for the other), probably needs to take at least a point against Kaka, Robinho & Co. Thursday in Pretoria, otherwise the final group stage on Sunday vs. Egypt will probably be rendered moot.

Action kicks off at 9:55 AM ET on ESPN2. We'll be live blogging shortly before then.

Put a camera on people, and they'll go "WOOOOOOOOO!" Oh yes. Oh yes, they will. Apparently they will also take corporate slogans and regurgitate them onto a sign, which is all very postmodern and a little sad. Anyway: after the jump a whole mess of pictures from the USA-Brazil game mostly featuring fans of various descriptions, many of them "doofus Americans rooting for Brazil." If anyone from the INS is reading this, they should be deported. Not the INS people, the doofus carpetbagging Brazil fans.

Hi. I was at Soldier Field for the USA-Brazil friendly today and have just returned. I'm tired. I haven't had the benefit of replay to see if the USA deserved a penalty after the Heath Pearce bomb or if the Ronaldinho free kick was set up by a legit foul or not. Also I'm not entirely sure about who did well and who didn't because of the being there thing. But we soldier on anyway. Compensation: pictures of fans tomorrow.

Well, for a few minutes the USA led Brazil; we took a picture of the scoreboard. And then, later, for like a minute, the USA had tied Brazil 2-2; we did not but should have taken a picture of the scoreboard. And even though the game ended 4-2 to the bad, the USA acquitted itself pretty well against Freakin' Brazil, standing up to the generally acclaimed best team ever in the history of anything about as well as you could expect a bunch of dudes with a tenth of Ronaldinho's talent between them. Heck, we should get like three goals for the sweet Dempsey strike, and if you could the Onyewu own goal for us -- we scored it, after all -- the final was like 6-3, USA, which is cool.

But that's about as realistic as all those overheated "the USA will win the World Cup by 2010" predictions that popped up after 94 and then in 2002. Six years on from the latest round of unrealistic expectations, it's clear that the USA remains a threat to get out of any group that isn't the Group of Death, but do little else. The performance today was both encouraging and a stark reminder that the best answer for "when will the USA win the World Cup?" is "never." That's life as a USA soccer fan; fun can be had anyway.

After the jump: boxes! Sweet.

The much rumored Denilson signing, recently thought dead, has been completed. The Brazilian playmaker is probably the best player to ever sign for MLS, Beckham hype nonwithstanding, as he is a former Brazil international and was a key substitute on the 2002 World Cup championship squad. He's also just turned 30 (today; happy birthday, Denilson), which is by no means young but also by no means over the hill. At one point he was the most expensive player in soccer history. Real Betis shelled out $40.5 million to pry him away from Brazilian power Sao Paulo in 1998.

Denilson's arrival shifts the balance of power in the Western Conference to Dallas, already running neck and neck with Chivas and Houston for first place without the services of a DP. Juan Toja and Kenny Cooper have to be drooling at the though of Denilson's wicked skills coming to their team. A sample of those after the jump.

The USMNT's September friendly against Mexico in Azteca has been canceled. Frowny faces. But, US Soccer lined up a mildly interesting replacement:

The U.S. Men's National Team will play host to a truly special match when No. 1 ranked Brazil comes to Chicago in the "Clash of Champions" on Sunday, September 9, marking the five-time World Champion's first-ever visit to the Windy City. Kickoff at Soldier Field is set for 3 p.m. CT, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Univision.

Those fearing a B-level Brazil side full of players you've never heard of but could still destroy the USA should have those fears assuaged; USSoccer.com makes it sound like a full-strength squad will be brought, as the game is over a FIFA-approved international break and Brazil is gearing up for the marathon South American qualifying process. Should be exciting; there might even be some USA fans at Soldier Field.

(Via the DCenters.)

While the Red Wings have had trouble selling out playoff games at the old Joe Louis Arena and living up to the "Hockeytown" nickname they gave to Detroit as a marketing scheme, fans in a faraway place have jumped on the bandwagon.

As Terry Foster discovers, this place is Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil!

Yeah, there is a large and dedicated Red Wings fan base in Brazil, and they all like to come together at the Red Wings Brasil Blog.

How did they become Red Wings fans?

Sega Genesis and Nintendo, of course.

According to the person who runs the Web site, fans fell in love with the Red Wings when they played the video games with friends.

Although most speak Portuguese, they also fell in love with the broadcasts of Ken Kal and Paul Woods.

"Ken Kal and Paul Woods are wonderful," said Flavio de Moura, who updates the Web site. "Nowadays, we catch up on the games live on the Internet streaming. I don't know if it's legal. So you better not mention that please. We need the games."

Don't worry. It is legal. You guys are safe.

What is it about those old video games that turned these guys into Red Wings fans? Wouldn't they have been Blackhawks fans? Anyone who played the old NHL games would know Roenick was pretty much Super Weapon X.

Anyway, I am always amazed at how hockey can become an obsession in a place where ice hockey ranks below clear-cut logging and meat eating as a country's favorite sport. I don't know a lick of Portuguese, but it's obvious, from their blog, that these Brazilians love the game and know how to show their dedication.