A Uruguayan historian once said: “other countries have their history, Uruguay has its football.” Suppose we can say the same for Ghana. It would take some strong guts and wits to go past a Uruguayan side that has shown few or no fissures in South Africa – yet.
Taberez has started the mind games by naming his squad so early. Getty Images
Keeping clean sheets gets defenders beaming with smiles. And this comes no easier defending against Luis Suarez and Diego Forlán. The pair has scored three and two goals respectively at this World Cup, so far. In them, Uruguay has arguably the most potent strike force in South Africa.
Both players were top scorers for their clubs in the season just finished. A trait that must get our own Milovan Rajevac quaking. Forlán scored the two goals that won the Europa League final for Atletico Madrid, finishing the season with 28 goals. Diego Forlan’s at the peak of his footballing powers and has taken the prospect at South Africa 2010 to strengthen his position as one of the best in the game.
Under the spotlight, Suarez hasn’t faded. Despite being only 23, he is already captain Ajax and scored 49 times in 48 games in last season’s Dutch Erevidisie. He’s also transformed his club form into the international theater, scoring 11 goals in 33 caps for his country.
Now this is what you must do, sir Milo.
Defence
Richard Kingson, too, must be at his all-time best to stop these fun-goal-poachers. He must steer his defensive line and organize attacks.
John Mensah (will be okay despite missing training), Isaac Vorsah, John Panstil and Hans Adu-Sarpei (have a funny feeling Lee Addy might get a start even though I’m not a big fan) must work hard together to win possession. Get them to put out a foot ahead of Suarez and Forlán and always clamp them down even when not they’re not in possession of the ball.
We all know the guy in the 10, don’t we?
Simply don’t allow these two lethal strikers an opportunity to turn with the ball and face the goal. William Gallas and Eric Abidal proved this was the technique to get them not on the score sheets. Task Mensah and Vorsah to be as resolute as yet.
Sarpei must give every part of his game against the all-running Alvaro Fernandez. John Panstil hasn’t had an exciting tourney but sure must come big and soaring against Edinson Cavani who’s already being goosed by Tottenham after a fine season for Palermo in the Serie A.
Midfield
Midfielders are the thrust of a team. Anthony Annan has held play well, dictated the pace of our game and proved to be adept at both ends of the field. He must be at his in-depth best against Egidio Arévalo Ríos who plays for Peñarol in their local league. Annan must try to be first to the ball and stay there!
Kevin-Prince has been sweet for us, but it’s not likely he will play. We need his qualities to get past the evergreen Diego Perez, who’s had one excellent season for Monaco. The Uruguayan midfielder rarely ventures forward. His optimism to never give up a ball is the main reason for which he occupies the first position.
So, Milo, stick Kwadwo Asamoah and KPB’s replacement on him (Derek Boateng? Or Rahim Ayew).
Muntari, give ‘em the hard treatment – minus yellow cards! Getty Images
Sulley Muntari might entirely not be a favourite amongst the Ghanaian soccer legion but in Ayew’s absence, we’ve got to rely on him. His pace and acceleration will allow him to blow by defenders, while his trickery with the ball must win him plaudits against Maximiliano Pereira, who has lost some of his pace playing for Benfica.
Samuel Inkoom must be at his Basel best to make the most of Jorge Fucile.
Strikers
You get the glory when you put one in the back of the net. This, surely, must be running through Asamoah Gyan’s head as he braces for the showdown. Encourage the FC Rennes star to be as calm on the ball as possible and cut out those fancy excesses.
Diego Lugano (Fenerbahçe) has impressed thus far in the World Cup. He’s a fan favorite with his brave and warrior soul in defence and spectacular dead ball goals amongst Fenerbahçe fans. It would not be easy for Gyan to get one over him. But he’s proved to be equal to the task and showed it, especially against the USA.
Milo must allow him stay up with a lot of support from the midfielders.
Uruguay’s possible flaws
The Uruguayans have a magnificent attacking threat but they also appear to, at times, suffer from a lack of belief and confidence in the big moments. Let’s get those us our weapons, especially as Mauricio Victorino will play in place of Diego Godin. That’s kinda good for us, because Godin is the real deal in centre-back, seriously.
