South Africa vs Uruguay
Match Preview
A's second match will face the host against the Celestes. With two
draws nothing is yet decided in this group, and the winner will claim
the top at least for a week.
South Africa will hold the second match of their group knowing that
every single point will matter to advance to the next stage. Diego
Forlan's squad had a very disappointing beginning in the competition, as
their supposedly unstoppable offense had many problems making its way
against France's packed back line. South Africa confirmed their strategy
4-2-3-1 can offer deadly counterattacks and for that reason most of the
second half they dominated the game against Mexico. Their lack of
experience against strikers of International football proved lethal
against the Mexicans: something will have to change as Luis Suarez and
Diego Forlan can prove deadly if given any space. Half a ticket for the
Knockouts will be given to the winner, will the host stop Charrua's
advance?
Oscar Tabarez's experimental lab
Something went wrong in Uruguay's Gallic
debut, as the bridge between Celeste's strikers and the creative line
was built over impassable terrain. For this matter the Maestro will
introduce many variations, as well as adding a third striker to better
assist team's marksman. Nicolas Lodeiro's unacceptable behavior against
France will keep him away from this match and probably for the rest of
the competition, for now the substitutes will be given a chance to show
what they can do to aid Uruguay's creation.
Edinson Cavani will take Ignacio Gonzales' place in an offensive manner.
The lack of a fourth midfielder will call for Diego Forlan to take
command over team's offensive direction, as his teams needs his wits to
start their advance, and the offensive trident will feed endlessly from
this modification. Porto's Jorge Fucile will be the second change in the
squad, occupying the left band, sidelining Mauricio Victorino to the
bench. Forlan recognized their mistakes against France "We need to
improve our collective game from what we did against France and have
more weight on our opponent's area". Unluckily, and opposing to Socrates
beliefs, lack of ignorance does not imply goodness. Their rivals are up
to date with this modifications and will probably try to overwhelm the
Celestes from the bands, to produce the same effect the Vuvuzuela have
over the crowds: to confuse and try to lower the level of awareness of
the opponents.
Both Pereyra's showed their solidity from
the bands, but the Africans have a wide physical advantage on both
speed and stamina over the American squad. Diego Lugano will have to be
omnipresent to stop Bafana Bafana's endless advance, but this is not
something he is not used to: team's captain recognizes he must be a
defensive warlord, and this does not appear to be a burden too heavy for
him to have over his shoulder. The four man back-line will be mandatory
against a team that relies heavily in the counter attack, though it
might leave many spaces in the midfield, especially with Nicolas
Lodeiro's absence.
As the Maestro declared, a victory will
be a "Giant leap forward" for the Celeste. But will they be able to
outrun The Boys at their own home?
An ambush in Africa
The local team is locked with all their
rivals of Group A with a single point, and now the end of the Group
Stage is almost here the pressure for victory is growing higher and
higher. Team's aggressive formation with a lot of pressure from the
bands can get through almost any defense. Katlego Mphela and Siphiwe
Tshabalala showed both of them can surprise from distance as well as
advance until facing opponent's goalkeeper face to face, though their
last second calls have not been particularly sharp, at least during the
first encounter.
Parrreira will have much to think figuring out how to face the Celeste
squad. Against Mexico his defensive strategy worked wonders, though he
might lack the solidity of certain players to actually turn Bafana's
area into a fortress. Steven Pienaar will be decisive to create
offensive opportunities, as his creative role will be fundamental to
exploit the advantages of team's electric forwards. PIenaar declared he
was not at the 100%, but it was made clear during the last match that
Parreira cannot do without Everton's offensive commander. He asked his
team mates to play with the heart "No one can stop you if you play with
your heart" were his exact words.
Player's confidence is sky high, and they
know a victory this Wednesday will almost seal their pass to the next
stage. Lucas Thwala's weak performance against Mexico was one of the
reasons why the host was not able to retain the victory on the debut
match. For that matter, and to provide assistance to the back line
against Celeste's beasts, Tsepo Masilela will most likely perform within
the starting eleven. Stopping Diego Forlan will be determinant to
dominate the ball, but the task will be overly difficult. Another draw
might turn the last match of the stage into a nightmare for both teams,
so they can only go for victory. Having faced each other only once, this
six-pointer will decide the future of both squads.
