US thriving, but Brazil is next

Well, well, well, look who has America’s attention now.

There’s nothing like a big win to get the fans back home excited, and the US team’s upset of top-ranked Spain at the Confederations Cup Wednesday night certainly qualified. The game was replayed on ESPN2 a few hours later, an honor reserved for “instant classics,’’ and the Chicago Tribune ran a banner listing the top five US upsets across the top of Thursday’s sports page.

Even the snarky New York Post gave the team a shoutout - “SOCCER SHOCKER!’’ - on its back page.

“This win is huge for American soccer,’’ said Clint Dempsey, whose second-half goal sealed the 2-0 victory and brought a screeching halt to Spain’s record 15-game winning streak. “I’m excited about the result, and think all the fans back at home will be excited as well.’’

The American men, who play Brazil Sunday in their first FIFA final, took the day off from training yesterday, traveling to Johahnnesburg.

Daniel Alves scored the only goal on a free kick in the 88th minute for a 1-0 victory yesterday as Brazil ended host South Africa’s upset bid.

Brazil is 13-1 in head-to-head meetings with the United States, and has outscored the United States, 26-8. The lone American victory was a 1-0 upset at the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean.

“Brazil, we know well because they beat us pretty badly a week ago,’’ Landon Donovan said. “They would probably be comfortable playing against us, but I think we’re in a better place now.’’

In qualifying for next year’s event in South Africa, the Americans needed to rally from a two-goal deficit for a 2-2 tie at El Salvador, lost 3-1 at Costa Rica and beat Honduras at home - the first come-from-behind US victory in a qualifier since 1985.