Diego Forlan is Uruguay's best hope
Uruguay’s presence in the semi-finals is becoming the story of the 2010 FIFA South Africa World Cup. In a finals which looked like it was going to be dominated by South American teams, only tiny Uruguay, with its population of less than four million people, has survived to challenge European soccer hegemony.
Once a soccer powerhouse, winning the World Cup in 1930 and 1950, Uruguay has fallen on lean times, results-wise, for the past many decades. Since placing fourth in 1970, they’ve failed to even make the World Cup five out of 10 times since then, and never made it past the Round of 16. But this year, much of their success can be placed squarely on the shoulders of striker Diego Forlan.
Forlan has scored three times in five games at this World Cup, but that doesn’t even tell the whole story. Forlan has been named Man of the Match three times, and has been instrumental in his team’s wins over Ghana, Mexico and South Africa. What’s more is that Forlan is known not only as an offensive powerhouse but also as one of the best two-way players in the sport, using his tremendous cardio to run back and forth across the field.
A Leader on the field
With his hard work and tough two-way play, Forlan has emerged as something of a leader to his team. Diego Lugano may wear the arm band, but team mates can look to Forlan for inspiration. With minutes left in regulation time against Ghana, Forlan rushed forward with Maxi Pereira, looking for a pass. When Pereira decided to ignore him, Forlan dropped to his knees in frustration, pounded the grass and then went to ask Pereira why he hadn’t passed instead of firing a shot high and wide instead. But the two made up and the team rallied to win in the shoot out.
Unlike other strikers such as Ronaldo, Drogba or Rooney, Forlan hasn’t disappointed on the field. Playing for the Atletico Madrid club in Spain during the club season, he has been phenomenal. In 2008-09, he scored 32 times in 33 games to win the European golden boot award, and has racked up a total of 66 goals in 102 games for his team, becoming their greatest offensive threat.
And, like in the World Cup, he has clutch performances when his team needs it most, as he scored in both games of the Europa league semi-final against Liverpool in 2010, and then scored both goals in the final against Fulham.
For Uruguay in total Forlan has scored 27 goals internationally, but the 2010 World Cup will likely be his last major chance to shine for Uruguay on the international stage.
Dutch need to shut him down
Ahead of their semi-final match-up against the Netherlands, all eyes will be on Forlan to replicate his magic. His beautiful free kick goal against Ghana in the quarter-finals was essential to his team’s victory. If Uruguay are to upset the Dutch, they’ll need an equally strong performance from Forlan.
In fact, so much respect has been given to Forlan that the Netherlands are already working hard to shut him down, assigning his former Manchester United team-mate Johnny Heitinga to shut him down. Heitinga explained just why it is so hard to stop him.
"Diego is as good with both feet and therefore impossible for a defender to predict what he's going to do. And it is imperative not to allow him time to shoot even from distance, because he possesses one of the best shots on the planet," said Heitinga.
Most pundits believe that the Netherlands will be able to solve Forlan and knock out tiny Uruguay. But experience shows that Forlan can give any nation, no matter how small, a fighting chance.
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