Uruguay vs Ghana: Three reasons Uruguay will likely win
Uruguay vs Ghana is at 2:30 pm ET on July 2. Uruguay will likely win, thanks to its lethal goalscorers, strong defense, and tactical coaching.
Uruguay's soccer team striker Sebastian Abreu (L) kicks the ball next to his teammates during a training session at the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 1.
Henry Romero/Reuters
Johannesburg, South Africa
When Uruguay faces Ghana today, it will look to capitalize on the Black Stars' relative inexperience in the World Cup.
Both teams have strong defenses, but the South Americans are led by a pair of lethal strikers who almost seem to score at will. Led by a coach nicknamed 'El Mastro,' the South American team will look to score first and score often against the Black Stars.
Here's three reasons why Uruguay will likely win:
1) Goalscorers. In Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez, Uruguay have two of the deadliest strikers playing in Europe. Unlike a host of bigger names, both strikers have brought their club form to South Africa. Forlan, who has won the European Golden Boot award twice in the past six years, was instrumental in knocking out hosts, South Africa, scoring twice and setting up a third. Suarez, who struck 49 goals in all competitions in the Netherlands this season, scored both goals in the 2-1 victory over South Korea.
2) Ghana doesn’t score often; Uruguay rarely concedes. Uruguay head into the quarter-finals with one of the tournament’s most miserly defenses – a header by South Korea’s Lee Chung-Yong marks the only time the South American defense has been breached. Captain Diego Lugano has been a rock at the back, although it’s fair to point out that few of the teams they have played so far have provided much of a threat. Ghana, on the other hand, has proved less than deadly in front of goal. Until the second round match against the US, the Black Stars’ only goal had come from the penalty spot.
3) An experienced coach. This is Oscar Tabarez’s second stint as a World Cup coach – he was also in charge of Uruguay for Italia ’90. He has coached seven clubs in South America, including the famous Argentine side, Boca Juniors, as well as having a spell as manager of AC Milan (although that didn’t end so well). Now 63, he is one of South America’s most experienced coaches but so far major success has eluded him. Known as ‘El Maestro’ because he was once a school teacher, Tabarez believes he can take Uruguay to their first semifinal since they last won the tournament in 1950. Any further, and he might have to upgrade his nickname to ‘El Profesor.’
Don't buy the argument? Read three reasons why Ghana will likely beat Uruguay.
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