Talking Tuesday's U.S.-Brazil friendly

International friendlies in the warm afterglow of a World Cup can be like a really great dessert – but one offered up when you’re feeling a little full.

So we get U.S.-Brazil on Tuesday at the gleaming New Meadowlands Stadium.

My preview will be up at SI.com soon.  (Update: posted here now.) Meanwhile, here are a couple of things you won’t see there.

Charlie Davies is not on the roster. Why? Because he’s not ready for international soccer.

He’s not even ready for domestic league soccer, apparently. Not if you listen to the comments coming from leaders at his French club, Sochaux.

So this serves as an "I told you so" for supporters and media who cried foul when Davies was left off the World Cup roster -- and vindication for those of us who wrote all along about hopelessly long odds he faced in terms of a South Africa 2010 appearance. There always seemed to be some level of denial for some about the brutal extent of Davies’ massive injuries. (I'll watch for any of my media friends who want to stick their hand in the air and say, "Yep. Guilty!")

This Chad Marshall matter deserves further poking around. The terrific, young Columbus center back has declined U.S. invitations before. So I wondered if there was something amiss here? Was he upset with Bob Bradley for some reason? Is someone in Columbus afraid that a successful showing against a top team like Brazil, one so close to the closing of the international transfer window, might fetch an irresistible 11^th-hour bid?  (Frankly, I’m surprised Marshall isn’t already playing in Europe.)

Well, poke around I did. And I can’t find anything there. So, as far as I can tell, Marshall just needs a little break before the Crew, a team with legitimate MLS championship hopes, wades into a hectic part of its schedule.

One thing that does deserve further poking: I can’t help but wonder if anyone from the Los Angeles Galaxy is a little miffed that three of its top players must travel cross-country for a friendly when they’re already coming off a taxing, recent period? Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle and Omar Gonzalez are all set to play for the United States.

From the U.S. perspective, they need a good team out there. Even though Brazil is bringing a young squad, it’s stillBrazil. Put a young U.S. team out there and you risk a butt whuppin’. And that doesn’t do anyone any good.

From the Galaxy perspective, they’d surely prefer to have their trio back on the West Coast, resting and prepping to hold off Real Salt Lake for the top spot in the conference.