Uruguay vs Korea Republic Match Preview
The first match of the round of 16 will be held at the Nelson Mandela Bay. The winner will face either USA or Ghana in quarter-finals.
Group A's leader Uruguay will be taking on Korea DPR who managed to claim the last place in group B below Argentina. After a disappointing debut match, Oscar Tabarez's squad have been unstoppable, being one of the three teams whose goal has not yet been beaten. Park Ji Sung and his squad will have to face one of the deadliest offensives in South Africa. It's a must-win situation for two revelations in this championship, who will make it?
Makers of their own destiny
60% of the Korean goals during the first stage came from free kicks. Lee Jung-Soo, central defender, has been the hero of his nation during the last matches, scoring two goals from the air, but this has not been enough to satisfy team's coach Huh Jung-Moo, who is aware Uruguay's unbeaten goal will pose a threat to their future in this competition.
The Taeguk Warriors have never been able to claim the three points against the Charruas to get one step closer from repeating their best performance in a World Championship, eight years ago as hosts. "Our goal was to reach the round of 16. It is incredible to write a new chapter in Korea's footbalistic history. We've managed to get through to the second round without being hosts" were Manchester United's Park Ji Sung declarations.
Yeom Ki-hun and Cha Du-ri will have to lead Korea's advance against Uruguay's sturdy defense. Korea might have problems in the back line, as the squad has received six goals in the last two matches, and they'll have to be specially careful against Europa League's top striker Diego Forlan. Having scored only two goals in South Africa, Cachavacha might have the chance to redeem himself against the unstable Asiatic defense.
The heavy rain that's been falling in South Africa during the last days have kept both teams from training on the ground where the match will be held. Park Ji Sung will have to face a strong personal defense, and thus there'll have to be another leader in the squad for Korea not to be sent back home after this match.
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After 40 years Uruguay is ready to be part of World's best eight, as the Celeste will not have to face any serious candidate up to the semi finals, as long as they make it this Saturday against Korea. Uruguay's best eleven are fully recovered and thus Tabarez will be wielding his deadliest weapons to claim their place in the third round.
Diego Godin has not been able to perform against Mexico, as different physical problems have been troubling him since his arrival in South Africa. He appears to be now fully recovered, and thus Mauricio Victorino might be sidelined. Edinson Cavani has been the only piece Tabarez missed in the debut match, and his interaction with Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez and Alvaro Pereira (who left the last match with an injury that resulted into nothing more than a nuisance) will be mandatory to get the upper hand. Uruguay's players are confident one of their strikers will break the Asiatic defense, thus keeping their goal shut will be the only requirement to get to the next round.
Fernando Muslera's excellent performance has boosted enormously the confidence of the Charruas, as their goal appears to be unbeatable up to the moment. Team's captain Diego Lugano has much to do with this, though he'll have to keep his nerves cooled as he already has a caution and might miss a decisive clash if the Uruguayans make it to quarter finals. "We want to play faster, as we have a team that knows how to find spaces and attack" were Cavani's words regarding this clash.
With an average close to one and a half goal per game, the expectation grows larger and larger near the Rio de la Plata: Uruguay's president is traveling to South Africa to see the Celeste write their own history in South Africa. Diego Forlan will be once again Uruguay's playmaker, will he be able to breath against the asphyxiating Asiatic man-to-man defense?
