PRETORIA—The United States will get more value out of using the Confederations Cup for confidence building than actually chasing the title at the World Cup test event, goalkeeper Tim Howard said on Saturday.
Howard said building on momentum towards next year's World Cup was the top priority for the Americans, who open their campaign at the two-week tournament against world champions Italy in Pretoria on Monday.
"Let's face it, we are not one of the favourites. We have Brazil and Italy in our group, so it's hard to say we are here to win," he told Reuters on Saturday.
"But to use this tournament to build up our momentum game by game and looking forward to 2010 this is a great opportunity."
The Everton keeper said he relished the chance to play against top strikers from Italy and Brazil.
"I believe I play in the best league in the world, so I am up against top quality strikers all the time. As a professional, if you don't test yourself against the best you won't know your own ability."
But after an arduous season in the Premier League and the disappointment of an FA Cup final loss, Howard acknowledged it was not easy to keep focused.
"We all face that challenge but if you want to be recognised as a full international or recognised as someone at the top of your game, then that's what is required," he said.
"There is a responsibility as an international player to get yourself fit and mentally prepared. At the end of a long season it is never easy but the best players do it without complaint."
The U.S. are one of six continental champions, along with World Cup holders Italy and hosts South Africa, competing at the Confederations Cup which starts on Sunday.
Tricky Opponents Await Brazil and Italy
World champions Italy play the United States in Pretoria while Brazil take on the African champions Egypt in Bloemfontein at the start of the Group B campaign.
Brazil, who won the World Cup test event in Germany four years ago, are not expected to tinker with the team that garnered six more points in World Cup qualifying over the last week.
Wins over Uruguay and Paraguay have put Brazil on the brink of securing qualification for the 2010 tournament and despite the continuing exertions for most of his squad at the end of a long European season, coach Dunga suggested he was not about to offer any rest to key players
"If you completely change the structure of the team, then the new players will not have to same confidence and the same support," he told reporters in Bloemfontein.
Egypt will be hoping to catch the Brazilians fatigued with coach Hassan Shehata insisting his side had the right credentials for a surprise result.
"We are also a big team now and shouldn't be afraid of our opponents. We have managed to win the Nations Cup six times, the last two in a row," Shehata said.
"The Egyptian team is now used to playing against big teams. In the past year, we have played several friendly matches against teams like Argentina, Spain and Portugal."
Italy, who have already had a warm-up international in South Africa, will be without World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, who has a calf strain.
They also continue to battle with the effects of the high altitude in Pretoria and midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has complained about the lack of recovery time during matches.
"It means we are going to have to play a little more compact. It is something we are really struggling deal with," he told reporters after a 6-0 win over a local selection in Pretoria on Friday.
Their Americans opponents have twice before reached the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup, and are also comfortably placed to again qualify for the World Cup finals.
