South Africa vs. Uruguay: Goalkeeper Khune will be key to Bafana Bafana's success
If the Bafana Bafana are to win today's South Africa vs. Uruguay game, goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune will have to be as quick and alert as he was in the game against Mexico.
Fans of South Africa's national soccer team blew vuvuzelas as they waited at a fan park for the start of the South Africa vs. Uruguay game in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Ricardo Mazalan/AP
Fresh off a comeback 1-1 draw against a heavily favored Mexico team just days ago, South Africa's Bafana Bafana – or "the Boys, the Boys" – will face another Latin American team with a strong soccer history: Uruguay.
Uruguay may pose an even tougher challenge for South Africa.
La Celeste frustrated an uber-talented French team as the two battled it out to a scoreless draw last Friday.
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It was Exhibit A in how Uruguay's defense can wear down even the most creative offense and grind the beautiful game to a screeching halt.
If France couldn't get anything going against Uruguay, then the less-talented South African team will struggle. They'll need a brilliant strike like the one Siphiwe Tshabalala scored against Mexico. But against Uruguay, they may not get that chance.
The key to the match, however, lies in Uruguay's offense. As we pointed out before, Diego Forlán and Luis Suárez make a dynamic duo up front.
But the coach for La Celeste (the nickname is a reference to Uruguay's blue jerseys) is going for the kill. He's added Edinson Cavani up front as a third striker.
This is likely to make life very difficult for South Africa's defense, especially goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune. He, along with Tshabalala, was a hero for Bafana Bafana against Mexico.
They'll both have to come up big again against Uruguay.
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