World Cup:Uruguay vs Ghana -by Niko

World Cup
            2010-07-02 – Uruguay v Ghana
            Sports Betting Preview by Niko
            Uruguay v Ghana
            Football : FIFA World Cup 2010 : Quarter Final
            Friday, 2nd July 2010 – kickoff 20:30
            Uruguay

            Uruguay deserved their place in the quarter-finals by finishing
            first in their group A with seven points and beating South Korea 2-1
            in the Round of 16 which was not a surprise. This is a huge success
            for Uruguay national team who were waiting for forty years to reach
            the quarter-finals again.

            An interesting fact is that only two players out of the whole squad
            of 23 players play in the domestic championship. This was pointed by
            the coach Oscar Tabarez as one of the reasons for their success,
            saying that his players gained massive experience and more skills
            playing in the European leagues and that had strengthened the
            national team a lot.

            The Uruguayan side has played nice football so far and what is also
            important is that they have conceded only once in all of their four
            matches so far, which shows that not only they have great strikers
            in Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez but their defensive line is also
            very tight and functioned perfectly in their previous matches.

            However, there is one big worry in the defensive line ahead of the
            match against Ghana with the injury of the central defender Diego
            Godin who pulled his leg muscle in the match against South Korea and
            probably he will miss this important match. There are very slim
            chances that he might get fit, but that is highly unlikely according
            to the last reports.

            The team will once again will play in formation with four players in
            the back line, three midfielders, one offensive midfielder (either
            Diego Perez or Ignacio González) right behind the two strikers -
            Forlan and Suarez.

            A very interesting fact is that in the last seven matches in which
            Luis Suarez has scored Uruguay have won five and drew two times, so
            if Suarez has his day once again Uruguay should be very close to
            victory.
            Ghana

            Ghana reached the quarter-finals and repeated the success of
            Cameroon and Senegal who were the only two previous African sides to
            reach the quarter-finals at a World Cup.

            They beat USA in the adrenalin rushed first half performance, when
            they opened the score and kept attacking, but their form rapidly
            slowed in the second half and in the extra time when they were
            holding the ball and defended tight in order to reach their goal for
            progressing further.

            This is a big success for this young team and not many people (if
            any) expected that they will go this far at the tournament. The team
            is hyped up, they have the African support but i think that they are
            a bit carried away with their success and that is a big chance for
            Uruguay to use it in own advantage.

            Samuel Inkoom even said that Ghana could be the first African side
            to win the World Cup but i think that that is way too unrealistic
            thinking at the moment.

            Ghana has many injured and suspended players for this match.
            Defender Jonathan Mensah is out because of yellow cards suspension,
            the midfielder Andre Ayew who is one of the top players in the
            squad, will be also suspended for this match for picking up his
            second yellow card in the match against USA and his place will be
            probably filled with Sulley Muntari.

            The midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng who scored against the
            Americans, is also very doubtful with pulled muscle injury and was
            substituted in the last match. A major scare was the ankle injury of
            the top striker Asamoah Gyan which he had picked up at training, but
            according to his words he will be up and ready to play against
            Uruguay. John Mensah is still recovering and not fully match fit.
            The Betting Verdict

            This will be a clash of two different styles of playing, but i give
            advantage to the South Americans.

            Uruguay are a very good side, well organized in the back and in the
            midfield and have two dangerous strikers. They will miss only one
            defensive player, unlike Ghana who have several key players absent
            for this match.

            Ghana did a great job so far, they achieved huge success and they
            play very fast football, but it seems that they get worn out
            quickly. I think that Uruguay will play patiently waiting for their
            chances and will find a way to win this match.
            The Pick :
            Uruguay 2-1 Ghana

            FIXED ODDS BETTING :
            Take Uruguay to win this match and progress into the semifinals.