Uruguay vs. Ghana

The first quarterfinals evening match will see South Americans, Uruguay, face the only African side left in the World Cup, Ghana. This will be their first ever meeting on a football field and many will be expecting this to be an explosive game. Uruguay have been silencing the vuvuzelas on their road to the World Cup Finals while Ghana have been backed up heavily with the sound that makes them home.

The South American side have been rewarded the easier half of the knockout stages to reach the Final. Topping Group A and beating South Korea 2-1 in the last 16 granted Uruguay their first appearance in the quarterfinals since 1970. The twice World Cup winners have set this World Cup alight with the striking partnership between Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez. The partnership has yielded a staggering of 5 goals and 2 assists between them. Against South Korea, Coach Oscar Tabarez deployed a 4-3-3 formation in which Canvani accompanied the already blistering striking force. It was Ajax player, Suarez, who guided Uruguay into the quarterfinals with two goals while also conceding first time in the tournament. It is expected that Tabarez will revert back to a 4-4-2 formation after seeing the 4-3-3 not being able produced a more solid defensive play than what we saw in the group stages. They were living on counter attacking football as they were pressed by the South Koreans in the 2nd half. The midfield struggled to keep pace with the pressure until Suarez stunning strike sealed the deal. Uruguay should learn from their mistake if they want to progress further in this tournament. Both Captain Lugano and Victorino are one yellow card from suspension.

The whole of the African continental will surely be backing Ghana to make it to the semifinals with a win over Uruguay. This is the first time that Ghana have made it to the quarterfinals in a World Cup tournament and against all odds, with a few of their key players out, they managed to keep the hopes of an African team winning a World Cup alive. Their 2-1 win over USA in extra time will come with an expense of seeing the Ghanaese coping with fatigue in order to face Uruguay in Soccer City, Johannesburg Friday evening. The extra time took toll on some players in like defenders Sarpei and Inkoom who were substituted. Kevin Price Boateng will need to fight off an ankle injury in time to face Uruguay as Ghana is desperate to have him reproduce the same form he showed against USA. Lone striker Asamoah Gyan showed the world that he can also score goals from open play as he got the winning goal in extra time to send Ghana through to their first ever quarterfinals. Gyan have three goals on his belt and it is likely that Coach Milovan Rajevac will continue this successful feat into the quarters. The 4-2-3-1 formation showed strength, desire and willing to attack, therefore they are dangerous when teams least expected. Andre Ayew will miss the game against Uruguay as he serves his suspension after receiving his second yellow card against USA.

The only African team left in this tournament has more or less all the support of not just the African continent but also other continent who wants to see an African team to well in the World Cup. The vuvuzelas will be immense when Ghana take on Uruguay and expect that to be deafening. If there was one team that has kept the vuvuzelas quiet, then Uruguay could once again do that with a bigger effect. The strike force of Forlan and Suarez are one of the hottest properties in the World Cup and the young Ghana defense will have some trouble to contain them. Hopefully Ghana will be able to get over their tiredness they showed against USA in the close stages of the Extra Time and give us an unforgettable game.]

Verdict
First knockout game could go down as a cautious game of chess but defensively, South Korea does not look able to compete with Uruguay force of attack.