Group A looks too close to call after two draws on the opening day, but hosts South Africa and Uruguay should have a clearer idea of their destinies at this World Cup after what promises to be a hotly contested encounter in the heartland of Pretoria. While it is far-fetched to suggest that their Loftus Versfeld Stadium encounter will be decisive, a victory for either side would go a long way to booking a place in the Round of 16.
Score – South Africa 0 – 3 Uruguay
SA coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has made one change to his starting line-up against Uruguay, with Tsepo Masilela replacing Lucas Thwala.
Teams
South Africa: 16-Itumeleng Khune; 2-Siboniso Gaxa, 3-Tsepo Masilela, 20-Bongani Khumalo, 4-Aaron Mokoena; 12-Reneilwe Letsholonyane, 13-Kagisho Dikgacoi, 10-Steven Pienaar, 11-Teko Modise, 8-Siphiwe Tshabalala; 9-Katlego Mphela.
Uruguay: 1-Fernando Muslera; 2-Diego Lugano, 3-Diego Godin, 4-Jorge Fucile, 16-Maximiliano Pereira, 15-Diego Perez, 17-Egidio Arevalo, 7-Edinson Cavani, 11-Alvaro Pereira, 9-Luis Suarez, 10-Diego Forlan.
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)
They may be riding a wave of optimism inside the host country, but Carlos Alberto Parreira’s South Africa will face a tough task against Uruguay. In their opening game against France, the Uruguayans showed that they possess the ability to contain teams and launch dangerous counter-attacks. Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has hinted that against South Africa they will be more adventurous compared to that safety-first approach.
Uruguay have been preparing in Kimberley, a town famous for the surrounding gold mines, but it is goals that Uruguay want after their stalemate with France hence Tabarez’s expected decision to go with an extra striker in Edinson Cavani. The South Africans too want to improve on their finishing after the 1-1 draw with Mexico, where striker Katlego Mphela missed a glorious chance in the dying moments, watching in agony as his shot shaved the upright.
Still, South Africa gave their millions of home supporters cause for optimism with their opening display against Mexico. When pressed against the ropes in the first 20 minutes, they were able to absorb the pressure and, having overcome the stage fright that gripped them early on, found a head of steam in the second half. It was a performance that served notice that the hosts should not be taken lightly and the fact that they were less than 10 minutes from victory against an organised and polished Mexican side earned them rave reviews.
Players to watch
Itumeleng Khune v Diego Forlan
South Africa’s exciting young goalkeeper, Itumeng Khune, is in the form of his life, as seen by his flying save from Alessandro Dos Santos in the second half of the game against Mexico. He showed his importance to Bafana Bafana in that Opening Match and may need to be at his best again to deny a Uruguay front line including Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan. Although expected to play behind the front two, Forlan will be hustling for an opportunity to open his account after missing a late scoring chance against France. South Africa showed a lack of concentration when conceding an equaliser to Mexico and Forlan will be looking to exploit any such weaknesses.
The stats
7 – the number of goals scored between the two sides in their two previous meetings. All the goals came during the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup match in Saudi Arabia where South Africa lost 4-3.
What they say
“I think we broke the ice [against Mexico]. We will be much better against Uruguay because now we know what we’re going to get and what to expect. I think there are some things that we need to fix as well. We need to concentrate until the last minute and we need to take our chances in a game like this because they are a really good team,” South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar.
“All matches are different – now we’re facing South Africa, then Mexico, they will all be different, all difficult games. Hopefully we will be able to get more control of the ball; that way we will be able to run less and rest more, and manage the flow of the game better. South Africa is a team with good players, fast players that can counter and come out very quickly so we are going to have to be very careful,” Uruguay forward Diego Forlan.
Have your say
Who do you think? Can Bafana Bafana get their first win of their FIFA World Cup?
Switzerland won 1 – 0
1.36%of all players in SuperBru correctly predicted
a Switzerland win.
Would i be right in calling it a upset. 😆
Absolute shocker that Super.. One of the greatest upsets of all time..
Top 5 Soccer Guru’son Rugby-Talk
1 Loosehead 15.33
2 Bullsbabe 13.58
3 Slasher 12.75
4 Winston Champ 11.83
5 EEE 11.50
I am there by luck,I know nothing about football 🙂
what a game…..but damn its freezing in dbn but worth the cold to be at this game…… Go bafana on our way 2 the fan park now….. Good luck bafana
Durban,its about 15 degrees colder here in Jhb so just count your blessings 🙂
@ Winston:
my % is 43% that is bloody poor, no this game is not my forte. Just guessing and hope.
Did you watch the Brazilians last night?
Hell the know how to handle a ball, the game i liked the most so far.
Well I was so surprised by Spain losing to the Swiss.
Went down to South Beach where they have a huge screen and a stage for bands today. WHAT A MAGNIFICENT ATMOSPHERE. Jeepers those Spanish were fantastic. So many of them down there blowing their vuvuzelas and dancing to the music. All fancy dressed too…..hahahaha. I felt sorry to see them lose now.
I think they will still make it. Just need to win their next two games.
@ Puma:
Nice to see you back.
I missed that game , visited my kids around the corner. Had the most delightful lamb curry, just the right thing for this cold weather.
I have no internet since Monday. So angry with Telkom they should have sorted it out by now. Working from my lap top with my 3G connection. So wont blog much until I get the internet sorted out. Think must be the line. Still waiting for Telkom to sort it out.
Just logged on quick to say, GOOD LUCK BAFANA
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BAFANAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
@ Puma:
so my own bleddie company is sabotaging you. Sorry to hear.
@ superBulHowzit Super, I watched the game. Don’t know a lot about soccer but looked to me like Spain just blew their chances.
Got furniture delivered on Monday and been hectic busy since then. Also my internet just not working. Think somehow it is the line. On the phone once again to Telkom
@ superBul:hehehehe they are just speaking to them now AGAIN!!
I just had a peak at the FIFA website, that is well constructed. They even have international sign as one of the options . I have to say for n person who cant stand the vuvuzelas that would have been a great option. But it seems they only do summaries.
Must be almost impossible to do Sign during a match, just too fast, the game.
I watched the beginning of the game Super but fell asleep,have been working long hours at work since I have started 🙂 But I think Germany is the form side of the tournament so far.
Puma,good to see you,havent seen you on the blog in a while,was wondering where you where 🙂
@ Winston:17 – Winston thans buddy. Finally now settled.
Also FINALLY got my internet to work. Was on the phone now to Telkom for about 45min. Got it all sorted. Internet back. Modem working again…..heeeeeeehaaaaaa.
Gooooooooooooooooooooooo Bafanaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
@ Puma:
18 – Typo there. Meant thanks….hehehe.
Okaya going to watch Bafana now. Really, really hope they win. Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many people wearing the Bafana shirts today. I had mine on and also now can blow the vuvuzela like a pro……..hahahahahaha. Yip, bought myself one of those things…. loving it must say. Never in my life thought I would but loving it. What a vibe on the Durban beach front today. Just totally awesome.
@ Puma:
welcome back to civilization
See you just told me you struggle with Telkom and immediate response. Hahahaha
Hellooooooooo
I did woodwork all day…. was busy building some solid SA Hardwood built-in cupboards…
Today was the day to plane all the rough planks with my thickness bench planer into specific thicknesses, damn it was hard work but luckily I had an able assistant in BonzaiGBS.
On Sunday I will go to step 2, sawing the planed planks into the right widths and lenghs…. after that it will be time to build the actual cupboards.
One could probably knock a set of Melamine cupboards together in a day’s effort, but damn, that would have been silly cupboards compared to what I’m putting in.
It’s actually nice to do some proper woodwork for a change, it’s a hobby I have not had time for for a very long time. Before the soccer starts I better get into a shower though, full of wood dust and shavings at the moment.
Go Bafana Bafana!!
@ Puma:another typo.. 😯 meant okay…hehehe.
Okay now off to watch Bafana play.
The company that bought the rights to the Vuvuzela is cashing in big time. Saw they made one that makes less noise.
R20m made with the zelas
@ superBul:20 – Super, hehehehe. Should have told you sooner I had a problem with Telkom. I had them on the line on and off for 3 days now. Finally got it sorted. 😀 So packed my lap top away. Never like using it puts too much strain on my neck. Like my big screen and a proper key board to work from.
Okay now off to watch Bafana.
Glad you sorted that out Puma,Telkom are pretty useless on a good day. Gbs,I dont know which end of a screw driver to use,I can do bits and pieces but thats about it. Get in Bafana 🙂
@ superBul:23
Super, Saw that in the paper. Also they sold over 20 000 in 12 hours in London just before the England game. Then you hear on Sky News them moaning about the Boogie blaster (vuvuzela)…hahaha. Let them moan it is like us having 12 men on the field. It is held here and that is how we celebrate the soccer here with the vuvuzela. All the Spanish on the beach front today had one. I must have seen more than 10 000 Spanish supporters down there and they were all blowing their vuvuzelas…….hehehe. We have started a trend here..hahaha.
Okay back later now really off to watch the start of the game.
Funny you say that Puma,I wonder if it will spread all over the world to Premiership games etc etc..
@ Winston:Thanks Winston.
Now going to watch Bafana.
Go Bafanaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
A nice 2-0 victory would go down well tonight.. I said 1-0 on my Bru,but think I was going with my heart there..
@ Winston:27 – Winston maybe. Though the English on Sky are moaning so much about them….hehehehe. Let them moan it is our way of having fun at the soccer.
(Sorry to our resident Pom..hehehe.)
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