Forlan and Suarez can fuel surprise Uruguayan progress
Published:Hearts may have skipped a beat in Montevideo when Diego Forlan fell to the ground in pain during training, but Uruguay are ready to prove that they are far from a one man team.
Fortunately, the prolific Atletico Madrid striker’s injury is not as serious as initially feared, and at 7/4 to be his country’s top scorer, he is raring to lead Uruguay’s World Cup challenge.
He may, however, need to share the spotlight with his strike partner Luis Suarez, a 23-year-old who is attracting interest from a host of top European clubs.
Suarez scored more domestic goals last season than any other player at the World Cup, with an exceptional 35 goals in 33 league appearances for Ajax. He is 5/2 to be Uruguay’s top scorer.
He and Forlan will be ably supported by the Uruguayan midfield, which features Napoli’s holding hardman Walter Gargano and Valencia’s Ignacio Gonzalez.
Martin Caceres, the Barcelona defender currently on loan at Juventus, will also be an important figure if he can stay fit.
Uruguay have been drawn alongside Mexico, France and hosts South Africa in what is an unpredictable and competitive Group A.
And with five wins from their last seven matches, Uruguay will enter their World Cup opener against France on Friday in good form.
They contributed to France’s group stage exit at the 2002 World Cup with a foul-tempered 0-0 draw which saw France’s Thierry Henry sent off.
Should the South Americans repeat this trick and win their other two fixtures, Uruguay may even fancy their chances of winning the group, and they are 10/3 to do so.
They would then meet the second placed team from Group B (most likely Nigeria, Greece or South Korea) and a win at this stage could set up a quarter-final with England.
England’s quality may prove to be beyond the South Americans, and with this in mind, Uruguay are an enticing 11/2 to be eliminated at the quarter-finals.
How do you think Uruguay will fare? They are 2/1 to be eliminated in the round of 16. See the full Uruguay Specials market.
