Uruguay vs Ghana
Although Uruguay have a rich FIFA World Cup™ history, they have not advanced as far as the quarter-finals since their run to the last four in 1970. Ghana, their opponents on Friday night, have never gone this far in the tournament before, having reached the second round four years ago on their FIFA World Cup debut.
Can Ghana eclipse Cameroon's exploits in 1990 and Senegal's in 2002 to become the first African side in the last four? Or will the two-time champions Uruguayans keep their good run going in a tournament where the South American teams have been immensely difficult to beat?
In both 2006 and in South Africa, the Black Stars were Africa’s only representatives in the knock-out rounds, and they can also become the first ever side from the continent to advance to a semi-final with a win. Standing in the way of Africa’s hopes is an in-form La Celeste led by one of the most dynamic front-lines at the tournament.
The match
Uruguay-Ghana, Johannesburg (Soccer City), 2 July, 20.30
For a team that struggled to qualify for the finals, Uruguay emerged as one of the dark horses of the opening stage after finishing top of Group A. After opening the event with a scoreless draw with France, they have secured three consecutive wins, largely thanks to the form of strikers Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez. Forlan scored a brace in the 3-0 dismantling of the hosts, while Suarez scored the trio of Uruguay’s goals in the 1-0 win over Mexico and 2-1 victory over Korea Republic. Edinson Cavani is the most unheralded of the attacking triumvirate, but the Palermo forward can also be lethal if unchecked. However, Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has earned a reputation for his tactical acumen, and the Serb has built one of Africa’s finest defences.
With so much history on the line, Ghana could be forgiven for being overawed with the occasion, but the Black Stars are seemingly unflappable despite being the youngest team in the tournament. A side boasting several players who won the FIFA U-20 World Cup last year, they finished runners-up at January’s CAF Africa Cup of Nations on the back of three consecutive 1-0 wins. They also held their nerve in a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over South Africa 2010′s comeback kings, USA, in the second round. Asamoah Gyan has scored three of the side’s four goals, and despite being hampered by an ankle injury, should be the fulcrum of the Ghana attack. Kevin-Prince Boateng also appears likely to win his fitness race, though the loss of starlet Andre Ayew to suspension will be painful. The door might now be open for the comeback of little-used Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari, and the possible return of previously injured centre-half Isaac Vorsah could also be a major boost.
Players to watch
Luis Suarez v John Mensah
A veteran anchor at the back for Ghana, John Mensah will need to call on all of his experience to stop the speed and creativity of the Uruguay attack. The 23-year-old Ajax striker Suarez is technically adept and capable of scoring from anywhere around the box. Although the powerful Mensah should have the advantage in the air, he could well be challenged for pace on the counter-attack, though the potential return of Vorsah could provide him with significant assistance.
The stat
7 – Asamoah Gyan has scored seven goals for Ghana out of the 11 they have tallied in full international matches in 2010. Ayew, Boateng, Muntari and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie have claimed the others.
What they said
Diego Forlan, Uruguay forward:
They are fast, strong, and they have done well in other games, even against Germany.
Asamoah Gyan, Ghana striker:
They have a great team, especially in attack. This is what we have to watch out for because they have players like Forlan and Suarez.
The question
Can Ghana eclipse Cameroon’s exploits in 1990 and Senegal’s in 2002 to become the first African side in the last four? Or will the two-time champions Uruguayans keep their good run going in a tournament where the South American teams have been immensely difficult to beat?
Netherlands vs Brazil
The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will play host on Friday to a mouth-watering clash between two pre-2010 FIFA World Cup™ favourites in the Netherlands and Brazil, two sides who have so far exhibited a lethal brand of swift, counter-attacking football. The pair are yet to taste defeat at the finals so far, having topped their sections and come through their respective Round of 16 ties to confirm the fine form shown in finishing first in their continental qualifying groups. But something has to give on Friday with one of these big names set to fall short of reaching the last four.
In the teams’ two most recent FIFA World Cup meetings, in 1994 and 1998, Brazil knocked out the Netherlands. Will Dunga's Seleção make it three in a row on Friday?
The match
Netherlands-Brazil, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, 2 July, 16.00
Both A Seleção and the Oranje hit the ground running here at the first FIFA World Cup on African soil, sealing berths in the last 16 with a game to spare. Having gone on to seal first place in Group G and Group E respectively, Brazil eased to a 3-0 win over Chile in their first knock-out tie while the Dutch were made to sweat in ousting Slovakia 2-1.
While the duo have met only three times on the biggest stage of all, these games have invariably been decisive. Indeed, at the 1974 finals a 2-0 victory for Johan Cruyff and Co sent reigning champions Brazil heading for the exit, while it was A Verde e Amarelo’s turn to knock out the Dutch at the quarter-final and semi-final stage of the 1994 and 1998 editions. Traditionally known for their open, attacking and adventurous football, both countries’ classes of 2010 are cut from a very different cloth. Both Dunga and Bert van Marwijk’s charges share many similar traits, both preferring to soak up opponents’ pressure before breaking quickly and clinically via a clutch of fast and technically gifted attackers. Be that as it may, a game featuring world-class talents such as Kaka, Luis Fabiano, Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie is unlikely to be anything but fascinating.
Players to watch
Arjen Robben versus Kaka
The Netherlands and Brazil both went into South Africa 2010 with doubts surrounding the fitness of their leading men. Robben picked up an injury in a warm-up game against Hungary and Kaka was plagued by groin problems throughout his first season at Real Madrid – the club Robben left in summer 2009 to join Bayern Munich. The Brazilian No10 has gone on to provide three assists in three appearances at South Africa 2010, while the Dutch wing wizard marked his first start of the finals with the opening goal against Slovakia.
The stat
33 — The combined number of the games the two sides have gone unbeaten. The Oranje are on a sequence of 23 matches without defeat since a friendly reverse to Australia in September 2008, while Brazil have amassed ten games without a loss since a much-changed and already qualified Seleção lost a South Africa 2010 qualifier against Bolivia in La Paz in October 2009.
What they said
Bert van Marwijk, Netherlands coach:
Taking on Brazil is a tremendous challenge for us, but we’re staying focused on achieving our objective, which is the world title. The Brazilians have a mature and solid team, who give off a positive type of arrogance: an air of invincibility. For the first time, the Netherlands are going into a game as underdogs.
Juan, Brazil defender:
It’s hard for Brazil or the Netherlands to sit back. They play a similar game to us: they like to take the initiative. Quarter-final games are always very cagey and sometimes get bogged down. We’ll be trying to score a goal in the first half so we can play with a bit more freedom.
Have your say
In the teams’ two most recent FIFA World Cup meetings, in 1994 and 1998, Brazil knocked out the Netherlands. Will Dunga’s Seleção make it three in a row on Friday?
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