FIFA World Cup 2010 – Mexico vs Uruguay; Will it be a tie?
Tonight’s match between Mexico and Uruguay will be held at the Royal Bafokeng Palace in Rustenberg. The contest is said to bewilder under the shadow of one of the most controversial episodes in football history. A draw between the sides will be enough to seal the progress of two South American sides to the next round. This prophecy leads to popular belief that both sides tonight will lack the motivation to go forward and attack as neither side requires a win to guarantee their qualification.
In 1982, the circumstances in Spain were similar where Germany played Austria knowing that a 1-0 win for the Germans will secure the qualification of both the parties and Algeria would be eliminated at its’ expense. Horst Hurbesch gave the Germans an early lead and the rest of the game was played by the teams sleepwalking.
Today’s game in Rustenberg although threatens to walk the dreaded path but Mexico have an incentive to play for. Although FIFA has dismissed the fear that Mexico and Uruguay will conspire to draw, Mexico may even try to go all out and push for a win as a win will see them topping the group. As a result they will avoid Argentina, who are all but guaranteed to finish top of group B, in the second round.
Having already secured 4 points from two games either side could still progress to the next round. Whereas, a defeat for either of the two will shift the pendulum in favour of Spain, depending on how Spain fare in their game against the Bafana Bafana.
The South American rivals have clashed 17 times head-to-head in the past. Mexico has won 7 and Uruguay has 3 wins to their credit while 7 of the matches have finished in a draw. Mexico’s first ever clean sheet in a world cup game was against tonight’s opponents in 1966, where the sides played a goalless draw. Mexico’s coach Javier Aguirre was the hero of this tie in 1986 when his solitary strike sealed their win over Uruguay. Tonight he will not be directly involved in the action but may still play a huge role in guiding his side to the top of the group.
After keeping two clean sheets in two consecutive games, Uruguay have two clean sheets to their credit. Previously, they have never managed three consecutive games at the world cup without conceding a goal and they will do anything tonight to get the better of this record.
The last time Uruguay progressed to the second round of the world cup was back at Italia ’90, also under their current coach Oscar Tabarez. Uruguay’s 3-0 win against the home boys is their biggest win at the World cup since their 7-0 win against Scotland in 1954.
If Mexico plan to come out of tonight’s fixture victorious, they will have to do it without their star striker Carlos Vela of Arsenal. Vela is struggling with a hamstring injury that he suffered in his side’s last match. In his absence the Mexico attack will be lead by two boys who even play their club football in Mexico, Javier Hernandez at Gualadajara and Pablo Berrera for UNAM. While midfield maestro Efrain Juarez is suspended after having picked up two yellow cards in two games his place in the side will be taken up by Paul Aguilar.
Uruguay is expected to field the same side that beat South Africa 3-0 in their last game despite having Nicolas Lodiero available after suspension.
Mexican players Torrado, Franco, Moreno, Rodriguez and Uruguayan Victorino and Lugano are all walking a disciplinary tight leash and are only one booking away from missing the next match which is most likely to be a knock out fixture should their team qualify for the next round.
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