FIFA World Cup 2010 match preview – Uruguay vs Mexico
If conspiracy theories are to be believed then one can be conned into believing, that the match between Mexico and Uruguay is all but fixed already. Why do you ask? Well in simple terms a draw will mean both of them make it to the round of 16 from their group, knocking out the former world champions France. While a win for either of them will mean France will still have a chance of making it to the next stage of world cup.
The math has been said and done over and over again but there is still one more incentive going for the win. Firstly, a win will ensure that they will be progressing to the final 16. The other factor is that the loser will be almost all set to face one of the tournament’s hot favourites, Argentina, in the pre quarter finals.
Uruguay currently is on the top of the table, courtesy a better goal difference. So it is even more important for Mexico to go for a win. In case they do not and France manages to beat South Africa with a big margin, all the good work would be undone.
Mexico will be missing their young star Carlo Vella who has not recovered from a hamstring injury, which he suffered in the 2-0 win against France.
Team Uruguay, which looks in great shape, will be boosted by the return of Nicolas Lodeiro. The starting line-up though is expected to remain unchanged.
There is expected to be an interesting battle between two big names from Spanish football league. Mexican captain Rafael Marques, who marshals the defence for his team, will be up against the free scoring Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan. Forlan recently led his club, Atletico Madrid, to the glory of Europa league. The striker has been in supreme form throughout the Spanish season domestically and in Europe. Thankfully for his country he brought the same form with him to the world cup, scoring 2 goals, both goals came against South Africa. However, Marquez is one man in the world cup who will know him a lot better than the others. Having played against him for years, before moving to Atletico Madrid, Forlan was applying his trade with Villareal.
Aguirre may be inclined to use the extra pace of Javier Hernandez, the latest signing of Manchester United. He was the hero for Mexico in the astonishing win against France. He latched on to a through ball and beat the keeper comprehensively on his way to his first goal in the world cup. His strike partner Gio dos Santos has also looked as threatening as him but has not been able to produce similar results. Though, if both start the match and compliment each other they can prove to be a handful for the opposition.
Now let us take a look at the men in charge of both the teams, Javier Aguirre and Oscar Tabares. Aguirre seems to have found the formula to finally make use of the talent at hand. Ever since he took over from former England manager Sven Goran Erikson, Javier has changed the mindset of his team. The fact that his team got the most number of practice games for world cup is also something which has helped him prepare his team better.
On the other hand, Oscar Tabares generally is known as a man with a defensive mindset but has been able to keep his team unbeaten in 2010.
So ignore the ones who are saying it will be a tame draw, both teams have a lot to play for and surely there will be enough in the game to convince that neither of the teams are there for a stalemate. Uruguay may have the edge with their attacking football play, but Marquez is the key for Mexico at the back.
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