The Pac-12 has been a better conference than it was in 2012. It has also been a deeper conference before. But it would be hard to find a year in the last decade when the conference was as good at the top as it was in 2012.

The selection committee reaffirmed the strength of the top half of the conference on Monday when it released the brackets for the NCAA Tournament. UCLA was awarded the number two national seed and Oregon was awarded the number five national seed, while Arizona and Stanford were both named Regional hosts. Had Arizona St. not been ineligible for the postseason due to NCAA violations under former head coach Pat Murphy, the conference very well could have been looking at five hosts spots.

The Bruins, Ducks, Wildcats and Cardinal still give the Pac-12 plenty of strength at the top of the conference and four legitimate national title threats. And they are joined in the postseason by one more Pac-12 team, Oregon St., the Jekyll and Hyde team of the conference that could very well go out quick in the Regionals, but could also find their way to the College World Series.

Omaha, here comes the Pac-12.

UCLA Bruins (Los Angeles Regional)

With a 42-14 record against the fourth toughest schedule in the country, a Pac-12 co-championship and a slew of impressive series wins, it was no surprise to see the Bruins nab a Regional host and a national seed. In fact, there was talk that they could get the number one national seed, but the second will do just fine. UCLA has the important part down -- a national seed that will keep them at Jackie Robinson Stadium in both the Regionals and Super Regionals.

This is the third consecutive year that UCLA will host a Regional and this is probably the easiest Regional they have had in those three years. It is not an easy Regional by any means, but after getting LSU shipped out in 2010 and arguably the deepest Regional in the country last year, the Bruins are happy to have what is widely agreed to be a fair Regional. San Diego, New Mexico and Creighton join the Bruins in Los Angeles, giving UCLA a test, but one that most expect they will pass.

UCLA will be challenged from the very start against Creighton, who have the exact thing the Bruins didn't want to see from their fourth seeded opponent -- a left-handed ace. Ty Blach has had dominant outings before and can have another one against the left-handed heavy Bruin offense, but the Blue Jays don't offer much else. San Diego is the all-around solid team in the Regional, adding their best offense in years to their typically strong pitching, while New Mexico has the fourth best offense in the country. Granted, they play at elevation in a hitter friendly park, but the Lobos can hit and they are red hot, having won their last nine.

The one thing that could be the different for the Bruins is their bullpen. Scott Griggs, Ryan Deeter, David Berg and Grant Watson give them a set of relievers that no other team in the Regional can match. Along with an offense hitting .310 as a team and a red-hot Adam Plutko leading the rotation, the Bruins are the undoubted favorites at their home ballpark.

Oregon Ducks (Eugene Regional)

Five years ago, Oregon didn't even have a baseball program. Now they are the number five national seed getting ready to host a Regional. The only explanation for this is that George Horton is a wizard.

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Mexico is running out of time to prepare for World Cup qualifying. The run to Brazil 2014 starts in just eight days. Can you see Mexico sweating? Probably not.

El Tri remain the best team in CONCACAF by a long ways and probably won't be tested en route to qualification for the 2014 World Cup, but weirder things have happened in qualifying before. They certainly want to be playing well when they begin qualifying and tonight, Mexico takes on Bosnia-Herzegovina in Chicago, IL as part of their qualifying preparations.

The lineup for Mexico is clearly somewhat experimental as they try to figure out their best XI. The defense is still a question mark, but the biggest question for the time is in the midfield, where El Tri are still trying to figure out who will play in the double pivot. It looks like one of them will be Jesus Zavala's, but the spot next to him is still very much up for grabs. Anyone want it? Anyone? Bueller?

Mexico: Ochoa, Rodríguez, Ayala, Salcido, Torres, Meza, Barrera, Zavala, Andrade, Dos Santos, De Nigris.

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Begovíc, Mujdza, Pandza, Jahic, Rahimic, Medunjanin, Lulic, Pjanic, Misimovic, Ibisevic, Dzeko.

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On Sunday, UCLA learned they were a Regional host. Early on in Monday's selection show they learned they were the number two national seed. Everything was looking rosy for the Bruins. They would play their Regional at Jackie Robinson Stadium and, if they won that, they would also play their Super Regional in Westwood. Perfect.

With home field in the bag, the Bruins turned their attention to who they would play in the Regionals. In the past two seasons they have been dealt incredibly difficult Regionals. In 2010, the NCAA sent LSU out to Westwood in 2010, but the Bruins still cruised. They weren't so lucky in 2011, getting arguably the deepest Regional in the country and falling victim to it as they were upset by San Francisco and UC Irvine. This time around UCLA really wanted was a fair Regional and that's what they got: San Diego, New Mexico and Creighton.

San Diego Toreros (40-15, 2nd West Coast Conference)

Usually, the Toreros are all pitching, no hitting. So what do we call this year's San Diego team, which is hitting .310 and slugging .440? How about just good. The Toreros spent much of the season in the top 25 and only just missed out on the conference title, finishing a game behind Pepperdine in the regular season and dropping two of three in the championship series. The pitching may not be as dominant as it has been in the past, but with a more powerful offense, this is the most balanced team that San Diego has had in years.

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So Brazil is better than the United States? Big shock.

Despite playing with their under-23 team plus a couple of older players in advance of this summer's Olympics, Brazil showed why they are Brazil in a thorough 4-1 beating of the U.S. It was not an embarrassment by any means for the U.S., and they had their fair share of bright spots, but there is no doubt who the better team was at FedEx Field on Wednesday night.

A harsh penalty call put the U.S. behind the 8-ball early. A Brazilian shot caught Oguchi Onyewu on the arm and the the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Onyewu's arm was extended just a bit, so nobody would say the ref was in the wrong, but it was a bit harsh for the U.S. Neymar converted the penalty and the U.S was trailing after just 12 minutes.

Brazil continued to attack and while Tim Howard did well to deny Leandro Damião, who was in alone on goal, he couldn't do anything about Thiago Silva's header. Onyewu and Jermaine Jones failed to communicate on a corner kick and the result was an unmarked Silva at the near post. There was no chance that Silva would blow that opportunity and he didn't, heading home to double the Brazil lead.

The rest of the half saw more Brazilian domination, but the U.S. did have their moments, usually through Fabian Johnson and Michael Bradley. So when the U.S. finally did score, it was no surprise that those two were at the center of it.

Just before halftime, Bradley played a tremendous ball in for Johnson, who was coming in down the left. In behind the defense, Johnson got the ball just before it got to the end line and crossed. The cross was deflected, but it bounced up right to Herculez Gomez, who nodded the ball into the open net and the U.S. was back in the match at 2-1.

The second half started looking a lot like the first, with Brazil controlling possession and putting the U.S. on the back foot. Seven minutes into the half, they got their two-goal lead back when Neymar got free down the left before dragging back for a wide open Marcelo. He knocked the ball into the open net and Brazil were up 3-1.

Once down 3-1, the U.S. really began to push forward and it paid off in chances. It helped that Brazil got a little complacent and Jurgen Klinsmann made substitutions that gave the U.S. a more attacking team, but credit goes to the Americans for creating the chances.

The U.S. forced Rafael into several excellent saves, denying Gomez, Terrence Boyd and Michael Bradley when all three times it looked like the Americans were sure to get a goal. Even when the U.S. beat Rafael, they couldn't get a goal, though. On one occasion Rafael was beat, but the ball hit the crossbar. On another, Clint Dempsey just had to tap the ball over the line, but a scrambling defense saw Brazil just barely knock the ball away before Dempsey could get a foot to it.

With the U.S. pressing forward, though, they were exposed at the back and that came back to bite them. Well, that and playing Onyewu, who was dreadful all match.

Brazil broke quickly in the 87th minute and caught the U.S. just a little bit out. Eventually, the ball popped out to Marcelo on the left, who hit a delightful chip over to Alexandre Pato on the right, who was only onside because of Onyewu. The onside Pato then took one touch to settle before ripping a shot past Howard, and that was that.

The scoreboard didn't accurately reflect the match because the U.S. should have had two or three goals, but then again, Brazil should have had six or seven. Whatever the scoreboard said, one thing was clear -- Brazil was just simply better than the U.S., and if you're the U.S., that's hardly something to be ashamed of. After all, they're Brazil.

For more on the U.S. vs. Brazil friendly, check out the match's StoryStream, which has previews, as well as live and postgame coverage.

This one is over. Late pressure by the United States gave them hope that they might be able to pull off a comeback. They pressured, they forced good saves, they hit the post. A goal, maybe two. and a chance to cut into Brazil's 3-1 lead? It looked possible.

Then Alexandre Pato scored to make it 4-1 and all hope was gone. It. Is. Over.

Brazil broke quickly after some U.S. pressure, and in the blink of an eye they were in the Americans' third. The ball popped out to Marcelo on the right, who chipped all the way over to Pato on the right. Pato was unmarked, took one touch to settle and then finished with a rocket at the far post that left Tim Howard no chance.

Once again, Oguchi Onyewu was at fault on the goal as he kept Pato onside. It was the last of many mistakes for the defender, who looked out of his depth all night and will make it tough for Jurgen Klinsmann to pick him again anytime in the near future.

For more on the U.S. vs. Brazil friendly, check out the match's StoryStream, which has previews, as well as live and postgame coverage.

"Anything you can do, we can do better."

That might as well be what Brazil is saying to the United States. After the U.S. scores a good-looking goal, Brazil scores one of their own that is very similar, only prettier and cleaner. After all, they are Brazil. The result is a 3-1 lead for Brazil.

The U.S. scored just before halftime with a quick move down the left that saw them get the ball to the end line and cross for a finish. Their cross took a deflection and didn't come with a lot of space.

Brazil scored not long after halftime down the left, but they did it quicker and in a more stylish manner. The end result was Neymar crossing for a wide-open Marcelo and a two-goal lead for Brazil. Style may not matter, but those two extra goals do.

For more on the U.S. vs. Brazil friendly, check out the match's StoryStream, which has previews, as well as live and postgame coverage.

The United States were clearly second-best in the first 45 minutes on Wednesday night at FedEx Field. Not that it is anything to be ashamed of -- most teams are second-best to Brazil, just like the U.S. was -- but the Americans were a little bit more fortunate than most. Thanks to Tim Howard and Michael Bradley, they managed to get outplayed and still trail just 2-1, giving them a fighting chance in the second half.

Straight away, the Brazilians showed why they are, well, Brazil. The U.S. defense, especially Oguchi Onyewu, didn't quite know what to do with the Brazilian attackers, and that the midfield was giving the ball away with regularity didn't help.

Those giveaways finally hurt the U.S. 12 minutes in, when a giveaway sparked a Brazil attack that resulted in a shot being fired at Onyewu. The defender's arm was a little bit outstretched, and that little bit was enough for the referee, who pointed to the spot after the shot struck his arm. Neymar converted the penalty and Brazil was in front.

Brazil almost doubled their lead soon after when Leandro Damião's perfectly timed run put him in all alone on goal. It looked like a surefire goal for Brazil, but Howard got off his line and made a great save to keep the lead at 1-0.

The lead wouldn't be 1-0 for too much longer, though. Another giveaway turned into a Brazil corner kick, and when Jermaine Jones and Onyewu failed to communicate on it, Thiago Silva was left wide open at the near post. Silva wasn't about to miss that chance, nodding the ball past Howard to double the Brazil lead.

Upon occasion, the U.S. would show some sort of competency going forward, but there wasn't a lot of it. Most of it was through Bradley, who was great, but the bulk of the half saw Brazil on the ball or the U.S. giving the ball away under Brazilian pressure.

Finally, the U.S. found a way through just before the halftime whistle. Once again, it was Bradley who shined, slipping a gorgeous pass in for Fabian Johnson, another bright spot in the first half. Johnson got to the ball just before the end line and crossed with his first touch. The cross took a deflection before finding the head of Herculez Gomez right on the line. Gomez nodded the ball into the empty net and the U.S. was right back in the match.

Considering the way Brazil bossed the first half, one goal down isn't too bad.

For more on the U.S. vs. Brazil friendly, check out the match's StoryStream, which has previews, as well as live and postgame coverage.

Maybe that United States side isn't dead after all? Despite being second-best for most of the first half, they are just one goal down thanks to Herculez Gomez's goal just before halftime, which cut the Brazil lead to 2-1.

The move could have been disastrous because of a poor touch by Maurice Edu, but the Americans managed to keep the ball. Eventually, the ball found Michael Bradley, who slipped an inch-perfect ball into Fabian Johnson. Johnson got to the ball just before the end line and crossed to the middle, where it took a deflection before popping up to the late-running Gomez. Despite there being a foot in front of him, Gomez bravely stuck his head in and nodded the ball in from goal range, and the match was back on.

For more on the U.S. vs. Brazil friendly, check out the match's StoryStream, which has previews, as well as live and postgame coverage.

There was once a time when the United States beat teams by being excellent on set pieces. That hasn't been the case of late, and it sure wasn't the case in the 26th minute on Wednesday night, when Thiago Silva got wide open on a corner kick and easily nodded home to put Brazil 2-0 up after 26 minutes.

The U.S. gave the ball away too much against Scotland, but Scotland was hardly going to make them pay for it. Brazil will, and are, turning a giveaway into a penalty for their first goal and now turning one into a corner kick for their second goal.

The communication between Oguchi Onyewu and Jermaine Jones was dreadful on the corner kick, allowing Silva to come across to the near post completely unmarked. Without a defender to contest him, Silva wasn't going to miss the frame and he didn't, sending Brazil into yet another celebratory dance.

For more on the U.S. vs. Brazil friendly, check out the match's StoryStream, which has previews, as well as live and postgame coverage.

Oguchi Onyewu and the United States will not like the penalty call that led to Brazil taking a 1-0 lead, but it wasn't nearly as bad a call as U.S. fans will say it was, and the real fault lays with the American team. The defender was called for a handball in the box, giving Brazil a penalty that Neymar converted to put the Brazilians in front just 12 minutes into the match.

The Americans did, and will continue to, argue that the penalty was harsh, and it may have been. The shot was right at Onyewu and he didn't have much of a chance to get his arm out of the way, but his arm was not right against his body. It was a little outstretched and the shot would have had a good chance at beating Tim Howard had it not struck Onyewu's arm. Harsh? Sure, but not unfair.

Far more concerning for the U.S. are the giveaways that led to the penalty. The only reason Brazil came at the U.S. and fired the shot at Onyewu's arm was because the Americans had given the ball away several times in the midfield. Give the ball away and Brazil will make you pay. Hell, they already have.

For more on the U.S. vs. Brazil friendly, check out the match's StoryStream, which has previews, as well as live and postgame coverage.

Robert Griffin III likes football ... maybe both kinds?

The Heisman Trophy winner and now starting Washington Redskins quarterback (poor him) clearly knows a thing or two about hand-egg-ball, but how about round-kicking-ball?

Griffin was spotted at the United States vs. Brazil friendly at the Redskins' FedEx Field wearing a U.S. soccer jersey. There are several possible explanations for this: he is a soccer fan; he is sponsored by Nike and Nike sponsors the U.S. team; the Redskins made him go; his sweet dreadlocks look way better in soccer than when under a helmet. You pick your favorite reason.

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Jurgen Klinsmann isn't making many changes to his United States team that demolished Scotland on Saturday. Geoff Cameron makes way for Oguchi Onyewu and Herculez Gomez is playing in favor of Terrence Boyd, but besides that it is the same team in the same formation as Saturday.

The U.S. is calling what they are playing a 4-3-3, but it is really a Christmas tree with Landon Donovan and Jose Francisco Torres underneath Gomez. That's going to be something worth keeping an eye on because while Boyd is a big strong striker in the lone striker mold, Gomez is not. In fact, he spent last season playing as a winger for Santos Laguna. Asking him to play alone up top is asking a lot.

Similarly, a lot is being asked of Onyewu. With the speed of the Brazil front three and Neymar and Hulk's tendency to cut in, the big, hulking Onyewu will have to do a lot of running and moving. That might not go well, but this is a friendly and the U.S. is better finding out how he handles it now than when the matches really matter.

At least the U.S. midfield can be counted on. The trio that they are going with is the same one that was absolutely sensational on Saturday, but then again, Brazil isn't Scotland.

United States (4-3-2-1): Tim Howard; Fabian Johnson, Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Steve Cherundolo; Maurice Edu, Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley; Jose Francisco Torres, Landon Donovan, Herculez Gomez.

Brazil (4-3-3): Rafael; Marcelo, Juan Jesus, Thiago Silva, Danilo; Oscar, Rômulo, Sandro; Hulk, Leandro Damião, Neymar.

Whenever Brazil plays, the world watches and tonight when they take on the United States in a friendly, it will be televised in at least 83 countries. Dear world, meet Brazil. Or not, you're probably already pretty familiar with them.

What those viewers from all of those countries will get tonight is a very young Brazil team. Only two players on the 23-man roster are over the age of 25, but that doesn't mean the team isn't exceptionally talented. Thiago Silva, Neymar, Hulk, Marcelo, Leandro Damião and Danilo are all in the team, giving Mano Menezes more than enough to work with.

Of course, the focus is going to be on the attacking players, specifically Neymar. The Santos star is already one of the best players in the world and maybe the most fun player in the world to watch. At just 20 years old he already has a highlight reel that stacks up against anyone with an array of incredible goals and fancy footwork that few in the world can even dream of.

Up top will be Hulk and Leandro. Hulk is already a familiar name to most soccer fans, one because of his name and two because of the interest he has drawn from some of the biggest teams in the world with Chelsea looking like the favorite. Leandro is also drawing interest from Europe as his days with Internacional dwindle. Tottenham Hotspur have long been thought to be his landing spot, but after yet another tremendous season in Brazil he has drawn interest from Juventus, among other clubs. If you want to see some of Europe's future club stars, look no further than Neymar, Hulk and Leandro.

What will also be on display is a U.S. team growing under Jurgen Klinsmann. They were fantastic against Scotland on Saturday, but that was Scotland and this is Brazil. Klinsmann promised an attacking style when he took over the U.S., but that might not be the smartest plan against a team like Brazil. The U.S. defense will be under attack and that means the defense will have to stand up. Whether they can or not will go a long ways to showing whether or not the team has improved since Bob Bradley got the axe last summer.

United States vs. Brazil

Game Date/Time: Wednesday, 8:00 p.m. ET

Venue: FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland

TV: ESPN2 (USA English), Telefutura (USA Spanish), ESPN UK (Great Britain)

For more on the U.S. vs. Brazil friendly, check out the match's StoryStream, which has previews, as well as live and postgame coverage.

Teams around the world are in the midst of some of the most important parts of their calendar. In Europe, teams are getting ready for Euro 2012 or prepping for World Cup qualifying. Teams in Asia, Africa, CONCACAF and South America all have World Cup qualifiers in the next two weeks. There is no time off or easy summer for anyone. Well, unless you're Brazil.

As hosts of the 2014 World Cup, Brazil gets a spot in the tournament and does not have to participate in qualifying. That, along with Copa America being last year, leaves Brazil without any matches if importance until the World Cup, or maybe the 2013 Confederations Cup if you think that tournament is of any importance.

What does a team without any matches importance do? Experiment...a lot.

Dani Alves, you can stay home. The same goes for Robinho and Ramires. Without a qualifier to prepare for, Brazil has the luxury of trying out some new players or even new formations and methods of attack. Losing doesn't matter, nor does momentum. They are still two years away from a match of any importance so their results matter even less than most friendlies. Experiment away, Brazil.

Of course, it is a lot easier to experiment and try new players when you are Brazil. Even without a handful of players they still have Neymar, Hulk, Alexandre Pato and Leandro Damião in the attack. There is also this fella by the name of Thiago Silva in defense. When you have the depth of talent of Brazil being without some of your top players doesn't matter so much.

It will still be tough to get much of a read on Brazil. They can hype up the match all they want and yes, they are still Brazil so they have high expectations, but you cannot feign intensity and urgency. Brazil have none of that without an important match in the next two years. They are in an awkward place.

For more on the U.S. vs. Brazil friendly, check out the match's StoryStream, which has previews, as well as live and postgame coverage.

The 2012 regular season might have been the finest in UCLA baseball history. Some will point to 2010, 2000, 1997 or go back to 1969, but all of those teams would have a hard time matching up against this year's Bruins.

UCLA finished the season 42-14 against the fourth toughest schedule in the country, including series wins against Baylor and Arizona St and road series wins against Arizona and Georgia. They are Pac-12 co-champions in one of the most top-heavy seasons the Pac-12 has ever had with four teams from the conference earning Regional hosts and a fifth that might have been had they not been ineligible for the postseason. Finally, on Selection Monday they were rewarded for that season with the number two national seed, the highest that UCLA has ever gotten.

Amazingly, as incredible as the Bruins' 2012 regular season was, it started as a nightmare. They dropped two out of three on the opening weekend of the season to Maryland. That is the same Maryland team that went just 10-20 in the ACC and hasn't been to the postseason since 1971. Worst of all, they did it looking very much like the 2011 Bruins with a faltering bullpen and high strikeout, power absent offense.

The Bruins looked even worse in their series opener the following weekend too. Baylor took UCLA out behind the woodshed and by the time nine painful innings were over, it was 15-3. The offense was a mess, the bullpen was as inexperienced as could be and now the starting pitching, absent Trevor Bauer and Gerrit Cole, looked shaky.

But the Bruins would not die. First they beat Baylor on Saturday to even the series, then needing a Sunday win to win the series and make a statement, they turned their season around. Down 6-4 in the eighth inning, UCLA found a rund, then Cody Regis hit a two-out, two-RBI double. The Bruins would go on to beat the Bears, 8-6, and with one double, the season had turned.

After an easy weekend against Sacramento St., the Bruins faced their first road test of the season at Georgia and passed with flying colors. Adam Plutko threw a five-hit complete game shutout and UCLA was on their way to a sweep of the Bulldogs. They backed that up with a home series win against Arizona St. and the Bruins were off. Washington St. went down and so did Utah. A defense of their Pac-12 title looked very much a real possibility just a month after they were waxed by Baylor and left for dead.

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Clint Dempsey missed the United States' 5-1 win over Scotland, but it doesn't look like he's going to miss the chance to play against Brazil. A day after saying he wasn't 90 minutes fit, making a start unlikely for the American star, he has tweeted that he will still play tonight ... we think. He didn't say so explicitly, but that is what Young Jeezy is telling us so expect to see Dempsey at some point tonight.

Fire up the Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan way back machine (seriously, way back, because it has been 11 months since they played together) because the Deuce and Landycakes Show is back! Again, we think it's back. Dempsey is (rightfully) more interested in referencing Young Jeezy than making things clear.

So Dempsey is doing Young Jeezy one better and putting on for his country instead of putting on for his city, which raises the important question: what are the amateur YouTube video makers of America doing with their time? Where is the "I Put On For My Country" song and accompanying YouTube video*? Come on lyric, rapping and video capable boys and girls of America, your country needs you.

* This video will preferably include Dempsey blasting Young Jeezy while sitting on his boat bass fishing in the middle of a North Carolina lake while confused onlookers wonder how America got so good.

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When Jurgen Klinsmann took over the United States team he promised to change the way the team played. Any defensive style that depended on athleticism or the counterattack was going to get the heave-ho in favor of a possession-oriented attack that emphasized more skill than strength. It was a major change for the U.S., which had found the bulk of its success in being among the most fit, strongest and fastest teams in the world and hardly the most skilled.

On Saturday, Klinsmann's squad flashed the skill and attacking verve that he promised. The U.S. destroyed Scotland, 5-1, and scored a handful of fantastic, creative, eye-opening goals. More so than the scoreline, the way in which the U.S. won was what was so impressive. The entire evening was an affirmation of what Klinsmann has spent the last nine months trying to instill in the team, but that was Scotland. And no offense to Scotland (which is code for I'm about to be offense), but Scotland is a subpar team that in its current form shouldn't even bother with the thought of qualifying for its first major tournament in more than a decade.

To beat Scotland and play attacking soccer is one thing. To do it against Brazil is something completely different. But the question is as much "will Klinsmann allow the U.S. to attack?" as it is "is the U.S. good enough to play attacking soccer against a team as good as Brazil?"

While Klinsmann may want to call the U.S. a possession-oriented and attacking team, his team hasn't always ben that. In fact, the only time since the German took the reigns that the U.S. came up against top flight competition, they hardly looked to attack.

The U.S. played Italy on February 29 and the Italians bossed the match.Italy had 61% of the possession, eight corners to the Americans' two, 19 goal attempts to just four for the U.S. The possession-oriented, attacking style that Klinsmann promised was nowhere to be found and it wasn't an accident. The U.S. came out looking to play defensive. Their defensive play was exactly what was intended.

Here is the kicked from the match against Italy, though -- the U.S. won. Clint Dempsey notched the only goal of the match and while Italy had all of the possession and goal attempts, they hardly threatened the Americans' goal. The U.S. was excellent at the back and well-organized. It was a beautiful match for the U.S., only it wasn't what Klinsmann promised to turn the team into.

There is nothing wrong with being defensive. Being stout in defense and deadly on the counterattack is not just effective, but it can be absolutely gorgeous. Contrary to what many Barcelona fanboys will tell you, there is not one "right way" to play soccer.

The question for the U.S. under Klinsmann is how committed are they to becoming the attacking team that he promised. Against Scotland they proved the are capable of being that team, but that is against weaker competition. Doing it against a team like Brazil is a whole other matter.

The strength of the U.S. team is still in its athleticism. Few teams can match the range, work rate or fitness of the Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones and Maurice Edu midfield triumvirate. The American strikers are still more athlete than anything else and even while aging, Landon Donovan, Steve Cherundolo and Oguchi Onyewu will be described as speedy, strong, quick or athletic long before they are called skillful. When going up against a team like Brazil, as they did against Italy, defending and counterattacking is not an insult to the sport and the way it supposedly should be played because that idea is ridiculous. Defending and counterattacking is just smart and if done right, beautiful.

Will Klinsmann dare try and control possession and take the match to Brazil or will he take the same approach that he did against Italy? It is not the wrong approach, just different than he promised, but it could also be deathly effective and odds are few Americans would feel cheated by a broken promise in exchange for success.

For more on the U.S. vs. Brazil friendly, check out the match's StoryStream, which has previews, as well as live and postgame coverage.

Good luck, United States. The Americans are going to need it considering the starting XI that Brazil is going with in Wednesday's friendly.

Brazil's manager Mano Menezes announced his starting lineup on Tuesday, one that will feature a front three of Hulk, Leandro Damião and Neymar. Between the three, they have almost 100 total goals at the club level in the last 12 months. Scotland hardly made the U.S. defense run on Saturday night. Wednesday will be the complete opposite. Size, skill and speed -- the Brazilian front three has it all.

There is more to the Brazil team than the front three. The team will be in a 4-3-3 with a defense led by Thiago Silva, but Marcelo and Danilo give the defense two more defenders who star in Europe. Of interest will be the play of Juan Jesus, a 20-year-old who joined Inter Milan in January and has been dubbed "The Next Lucio".

The midfield is very young. 23-year-old Sandro joins 21-year-old Rômulo and 20-year-old Oscar in the three-man midfield. Then again, the entire team is young with just two of the players on the 23-man roster checking in over the age of 25.

Starting XI: Rafael; Marcelo, Juan Jesus, Thiago Silva, Danilo; Oscar, Rômulo, Sandro; Hulk, Leandro Damião, Neymar.

Bench: Jefferson, Neto, David Luiz, Alex Sandro, Bruno Uvini, Rafael, Lucas Moura, Giuliano, Casemiro, Alexandre Patro, Willington Nem.

For more on the U.S. vs. Brazil friendly, check out the match's StoryStream, which has previews, as well as live and postgame coverage.

The United States demolishing Scotland, 5-1, on Saturday was impressive for the scoreline and the manner in which the U.S. played, but maybe most impressive was that they did it without Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore. Unfortunately for the U.S., it looks like both are unlikely to start on Wednesday against Brazil, although both will likely be options off of the bench.

Dempsey missed the end of Fulham's season with a groin injury and that same injury kept him out of the Scotland match. While he has improved and taken part in training, even he admits that he isn't fully fit yet.

"I think it would be a big ask for me to try and play 90 minutes tomorrow," said Dempsey at training on Tuesday.

U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said that Altidore was still getting back in the swing of things and indicated it was unlikely he would start. Altidore was not released by his club, AZ Alkmaar, until Monday and like Dempsey, is not fully fit after taking a break following his club season.

Klinsmann expressed his dissatisfaction with AZ for not releasing Altidore before Monday, saying that it made him "very angry and it put Jozy in a very difficulty position"but there is nothing he could do about it. Now Altidore has to play catch up because the rest of the team has been training for almost two weeks now.

While playing without Dempsey and Altidore was not much of a problem against Scotland, Brazil is a whole other story. First of all, they have Thiago Silva in defense and second, the U.S. won't have the ball nearly as much as they did against the Scots. That means the U.S. will have to be more efficient in the attack and take the chances they get, something that Dempsey and Altidore do better than almost anyone else on the American team.

For more on the U.S. vs. Brazil friendly, check out the match's StoryStream, which has previews, as well as live and postgame coverage.

Some players are truly exceptional and have love letters written to them. Tim Matavz is one of those players.

At some point a big club somewhere will realize how fantasmical you are. After all, six-foot-two forwards who scored 19 goals two seasons ago, 22 goals last season and have 14 already this season don't come around often. Until they do, you're left to the Netherlands, where you'll continue to score goal after goal and be the apple of my eye.

That was from January 25 and Matavz is only more fantasmical today than he was that day. He finished last season with 20 goals for PSV Eindhoven and played a part in many more. He's still big, strong in the air, capable with both feet and a great finisher. He has more savvy now too, making better runs than ever before. Just as he continues to play a bigger role with PSV, he is playing a bigger role for Slovenia. One day soon, everyone will know Matavz's name, hopefully as a Tottenham player.

The reasons that Tottenham should sign Matavz are the same that they were five months ago. The team needs a striker, more so now than then because the ship has sailed on an Emmanuel Adebayor return. Well, that and Matavz has gotten better, but why stop there with a PSV raid?

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Hate Rafael van der Vaart and his sometimes lollygagging, sometimes hot headed, never 90 minutes antics? Lucky for you, Tottenham Hotspur might be getting rid of him.

If a report from Bild is to be believed, Schalke are plotting a swoop for van der Vaart. Here's the crazy part -- it's believable. The idea of van der Vaart playing with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is delicious and with the Champions League looming next season, Schalke have both the money and motivation to make a major move. A move for van der Vaart would qualify as major and put the German club in position to complete in the Champions League.

For Spurs, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to see van der Vaart leave. While the hate that van der Vaart from Tottenham supporters is often unreasonable, it is not as if he is the world's greatest players. He is good, very good in fact and someone who undoubtedly makes Spurs better. But van der Vaart not irreplaceable, and at 29 year old there is only so much longer that Spurs can fetch much of a fee for the Dutchman.

If Tottenham do sell van der Vaart, they have to move quickly on a replacement and there are no indications as to who that replacement could be, or is there? Remember that absurd Ola Toivonen rumor that came from the Mail? If Daniel Levy turns that rumor into reality, they could get younger, cheaper and possibly even better by putting Toivonen in van der Vaart's place while Rafa flees to Germany. £10 million from Schalke for Rafa and £7 million for Toivonen sounds like a good deal.

Uh oh, things are making sense. Rafa out, Toivonen in? Make it so.

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There was some speculation on Sunday night that UCLA would be the number one national seed when the NCAA Tournament brackets were revealed on Monday. They weren't, with the top spot going to Florida, but they were named the number two national seed will do just fine after a 42-14 season and second consecutive Pac-12 title.

UCLA already knew that they would host a Regional, with that having been announced on Sunday afternoon, but earning a national seed also guaranteed them the right to host a Super Regional if they advance that far. Now they know their route not just through the Regionals, but through the Super Regionals and onto Omaha.

This year's Los Angeles Regional will see two seed San Diego, three seed New Mexico and four seed Creighton join number one seeded UCLA at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The Toreros and Lobos will get things underway on Friday at 3 pm PT before the Bruins take on the Blue Jays at 7 pm PT. The double elimination Regional will continue on Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm PT and 7 pm PT with Monday's if necessary game scheduled for 7 pm PT.

For the Bruins, it is a fair, but hardly ideal Regional. Both San Diego and New Mexico are fairly seeded two and three seeds so there is no room for complaint there and there isn't any room for complaint with Creighton either, who is also fairly seeded as a four seed, but that match-up against the Blue Jays is going to be tough.

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The regular season is in the books, but UCLA can't quite get to work on the postseason yet. First, they have to sit and watch the NCAA Selection Show and find out their path to the College World Series in Omaha, which goes live on ESPNU at 9 am PT.

Here is what we do know: UCLA has a share of the Pac-12 title and the conference's automatic berth to the postseason by virtue of the tiebreaker with Arizona. They will also host a Regional, as announced by the NCAA on Sunday afternoon.

If all goes well for the Bruins and they can win their Regional, they won't just be hosting on the first weekend of the postseason, but the second weekend as well. UCLA is a lock to earn a national seed and might even be named the number one national sed. There isn't much advantage in being the number one national seed versus the number eight national seed since all that really matters is that a national seed guarantees you a home Super Regional if you make it, but the recognition is always nice.

Joining UCLA as west coast Regional hosts are Oregon, Arizona and Stanford and because they are all Pac-12 teams, they cannot be matched against any of those in the Super Regionals. Instead, they will get an out-of-region non-national seed.

Before the Bruins can look at the Super Regionals, though, there is the Regionals. Odds are the Bruins will get either Pepperdine, San Diego or Cal St. Fullerton as the two seed in their Regional. Because Arizona and Stanford are lower ranked teams and Cal St. Fullerton is arguably the best non-host, common sense would dictate that the Titans go to Tucson or Palo Alto with the Waves or Toreros coming to Jackie Robinson Stadium, but the selection committee has done weirder things in the past.

Both the three and four seeds in UCLA's Regional are likely to come from outside the west coast. The only western team that looks likely to be a three or four seed are New Mexico St. and New Mexico and either could end up in UCLA's Regional, but they aren't close enough to marry them to Westwood. Odds are, the Bruins will be welcoming in someone like Missouri, Missouri St. or even someone like Belmont as the three seed with a small conference northern team as the four seed. The worst case scenario would be getting someone like Ole Miss as a number three seed.

Enough with the speculation, though. At the end of the day, UCLA just needs to get three, maybe four wins next weekend and two the following weekend to book a spot in Omaha no matter who is in the other dugout. So let's flip on ESPNU and see who is in the Bruins' way.