Brazil out to avenge 2004 Olympic defeat

So close.

Brazil has been here before.

In 2004, only the U.S. women stood between the Canarinhas and their first world title. Brazil created the majority of the chances in a hard-fought match that went to extra time. But Brazil's edge was lost when the players turned overly physical. They focused more on disrupting the Americans than on executing their own attacks. The U.S. players weathered the many fouls and finally struck gold via a goal from Abby Wambach.

Brazil avenged its Olympic disappointment at the 2007 World Cup when it handed the U.S. women the worst loss in their history. The 4-0 shellacking included two especially impressive goals by Marta, Brazil's key player.

Although many of Brazil's players insisted nothing would distract them from their ultimate goal of winning the World Cup, their emotional victory over the U.S. took a physical toll on them later. The team tightened up versus Germany in the final. Marta badly missed a penalty attempt, and Brazil surrendered meekly in a 2-0 defeat.

All that is in the past, though. Brazil looked confident and energetic while annihilating Germany 4-1 in the Olympic semifinal. Marta still rakes in the praise as Brazil's principal player, but the similarly athletic yet perhaps more precise finisher, Cristiane, has been the revelation of these Olympic Games. She scored two goals, one in which she torched multiple defenders on a run into the box.

Olympic women's schedule
U.S. vs. Brazil Thursday Beijing Workers' Stadium, China 9 a.m. ET

Besides proving that its squad is far more than a one-woman show, Brazil also put away the ghosts of other issues that have plagued this team. Brazil always has been a team that thrives on momentum and confidence. Thus, things looked dire for the South Americans when Germany scored first in the semifinal. Goalkeeper Nadine Angerer had gotten the better of Brazil's attempts in the past, as it failed to score on her in 2007 and in the earlier clash of the two teams in group play.

This time, Brazil didn't panic or resort to hacking down its European rivals. The Brazilians turned up their intensity on runs and passes. Their technique was well complemented with athleticism, exposing Germany for perhaps the first time as an aging squad that perhaps has hung on to certain players a bit too long.

The U.S. already knows that Brazil is as hard as nails. In the collision that broke two bones in Wambach's leg, defender Andreia Rosa walked away unharmed. The Brazilian team that faced the U.S. in two preparation matches before the Olympics didn't win, but perhaps it gained something more valuable -- an in-depth understanding of the U.S. team's strengths and weaknesses. The U.S. pulled out close 1-0 victories in both games, but those results aren't likely to intimidate the Brazilians, considering that neither Marta nor Cristiane (nor Daniela) was available for those games.

The wily veteran Formiga has been the unsung hero in many ways for Brazil. Her leadership and tenacious midfield play allow catalysts like Marta and Cristiane to roam more freely. It was Formiga who scored the goal that pulled Brazil even with the Germans on a thunderous strike that left Angerer no chance. Formiga works very well with midfielder Daniela to maintain possession and create chances. The pair should give the U.S. defensive midfielders, Carli Lloyd and Shannon Boxx, much trouble.

If tournament form will determine the result of Thursday's match, the final should be no contest. Brazil hasn't lost a match. It has played tougher teams and has looked sharper than the Americans on both attack and defense. They're just as athletic, a bit more technical and quite a bit more creative than the U.S.

What the U.S. has to its advantage is the experience of a former winner and the swagger of a champion. The U.S. is missing its biggest weapon without Wambach, but others have found a way to keep the dream on track. If Brazil gets nervous, if an early goal discombobulates them, the U.S. could seize the advantage and, ultimately, the gold medal.

But that discounts the evidence that Brazil has learned a lesson every time it has been denied a championship. The players now realize the laser-sharp focus and effort that it takes for a tournament run to culminate with a title.

Intimidation won't work with Brazil. The team can picture the top spot at the Olympic medal stand and is driven by its past failure to reach it. The win over Germany was a step to the only conclusion that will bring the team satisfaction. After falling short time and again, it's unlikely that any members of the squad will allow themselves to forget how and why they were denied. That leaves them a clear game plan to put into place, one that depends on relying on one another not to falter, to simply play the way they can and have for the past few games.

Brazil has been here before. The players will take that experience to help them go where they haven't yet -- to Olympic glory.

Andrea Canales covers MLS and women's college soccer for ESPNsoccernet. She also writes for soccer365.com and contributes to a blog, Sideline Views. She can be contacted at soccercanales@yahoo.com.