World Cup Preview: Uruguay vs Germany
World Cup Preview: Uruguay – Germany
By Subhankar Mondal
Share
Photo GalleryZoomWC 2010: Netherlands vs Uruguay, Diego Forlan (Getty Images)
Related Links
Teams
Germany
Uruguay
Finishing With A Flourish
Uruguay didn’t exactly have a very difficult path to the semi-finals of the World Cup but that shouldn’t detract from their truly adventurous journey. The South Americans featured in the last four of a World Cup for the first time in 40 years and indeed gave the Netherlands a run for their money, narrowly losing 3-2.
Moreover, the Celeste could point out that the Oranje’s first two goals were controversial: Mark Van Bommel had commited a foul in the build-up to Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s wonder strike while Robin Van Persie was offside for Wesley Sneijder’s goal.
Nevertheless, Uruguay shouldn’t be too depressed as their team were arguably the most ‘romantic’ in the competition and for a nation with just 3.5 million inhabitants, reaching the semi-finals ahead of Argentina and Brazil was indeed an achievement in itself. On other occasions finishing third in the World Cup wouldn’t mean much but the honour of being officially the third best team in the finals is a massive incentive to play well and win on Saturday night.
Making Their Nation Proud
Germany must be feeling sore after crashing out of the World Cup on Wednesday evening. Die Mannschaft were easily the best and most attractive team in South Africa, having dispatched England and Argentina in the last two rounds with ease, but against European champions Spain in the semis they met their match.
La Furia Roja taught the Euro 2008 finalists a footballing lesson, winning 1-0 to reach the final of a World Cup for the first time in their history as the Germans failed to show their true colours. Of course, the margin of defeat means that Joachim Loew’s side can go out with heads held high, but they will certainly be looking to make up for that defeat with a win on Saturday evening.
Four years back Germany finished third in the 2006 World Cup finals they themselves hosted by defeating Portugal in the third place play-off. The current Germany team is a very young one but they have shown lots of potential to scale the heights. Indeed, a win against Uruguay that will enable them to finish third for the second World Cup in a row – this will be a great achievement indeed.
The game could also be a special occasion for striker Miroslav Klose. The 32-year-old has a total of 14 goals in the World Cup finals, just one short of Brazilian legend Ronaldo’s all-time record of 15. He is struggling for fitness but the Bayern Munich forward will be desperate to start against Uruguay to equal or even beat Ronaldo’s record.
FORM GUIDE
Uruguay
Germany
Uruguay 2-3 Netherlands Germany 0-1 Spain
Uruguay 1-1 Ghana Argentina 0-4 Germany
Uruguay 2-1 South Korea Germany 4-1 England
Mexico 0-1 Uruguay Ghana 0-1 Germany
South Africa 0-3 Uruguay Germany 0-1 Serbia
TEAM NEWS
Uruguay
Midfielder Walter Gargano is set to miss out but striker Luis Suarez will be back from suspension. However, star man Diego Forlan picked up an injury against the Netherlands and there are some doubts on his fitness. Centre-back Diego Lugano will start in defence, meaning that Diego Godin will be on the bench.
Probable Line-up (4-2-3-1): Muslera, M. Pereira, Victorino, Lugano, Caceres; D. Perez, Arevalo; A. Fernandez, Forlan, Cavani; Suarez Gargano, A. Pereira; Forlan, Cavani
Germany
Striker Miroslav Klose picked up a back injury in Germany’s defeat to Spain and there are suggestions that he won’t be able to start against Uruguay. Assistant coach Hansi Flick also hinted that midfielders Sami Khedira and Mesut Oezil too have problems. Marcell Jansen is also likely to start at left-back ahead of Jerome Boateng. Thomas Mueller will be back from suspension and will replace Piotr Trochowski in midfield.
Probable Line-up (4-2-3-1): Neuer, Lahm, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Jansen; Khedira, Schweinsteiger; Mueller, Oezil, Podolski; Klose
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Uruguay
Luis Suarez. The Ajax striker missed the semifinal against the Netherlands due to suspension as he was sent off against Ghana in the quarterfinals. However, Suarez will start against Germany in the third place playoff and will be the Uruguayans’ main threat.
Diego Forlan could miss out as he is reportedly struggling with an injury and this means that Suarez will have to shoulder most of the burden of scoring goals. The 23-year-old has netted the ball thrice in the competition and he still does have a chance of winning the Golden Boot.
Germany
Thomas Mueller. The Bayern Munich youngster missed the semifinal clash with Spain because of suspension and one of Germany’s reasons for failure against the Iberians was his absence. However, Mueller is set to return against Uruguay on Saturday evening and will be eying the Golden Boot award.
Mueller is Germany’s joint-top goalscorer in the World Cup with four goals, just one behind the tournament’s top scorer – Spain’s David Villa – and with Miroslav Klose struggling for fitness, the 20-year-old will be Germany’s main goal-threat against the South Americans.
PREDICTION
Germany go into Saturday’s match as favourites and indeed they should win the game comfortably. Until their semifinal defeat to Spain, the 2006 World Cup semifinalists were the best team in the World Cup and they do have a superior team to Uruguay.
The Castrol World Cup match predictor gives the Germans a 62 per cent chance of winning the game while Uruguay are said to have just a 38 per cent chance. However, Germany should be aware of the threat that Luis Suarez poses and mustn’t get too complacent.
Uruguay 0-2 Germany