mancity dan
Well-Known Member
What do you guys think will happen in this one.
I'm thinking a French win (2-1)
Venue: Cape Town Stadium
Date: Friday, 11 June 2010
Kick-off: 19:30 BST
Coverage: BBC1, BBC HD and BBC Radio 5 live, live video and live text commentary on this website
TEAM NEWS
France coach Raymond Domenech looks set to leave Thierry Henry on the bench, with Nicolas Anelka taking over striker duties and Patrice Evra wearing the captain's armband. Centre back William Gallas has recovered from a knee injury and should start.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has named his side to face France. There are two changes to the side that defeated Israel 4-1 in the team's only World Cup warm-up match on 26 May. Mauricio Victorino replaces Colo Colo's Andres Scotti in defence and midfielder Egidio Arevalo is in for Napoli's Walter Gargano.
Starting XI: Fernando Muslera, Diego Lugano, Diego Godin, Mauricio Victorino, Diego Perez, Alvaro Pereira, Egidio Arevalo Rios, Ignacio Gonzalez, Maximiliano Pereira, Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez.
MATCH PREVIEW
A Frenchman scored the first-ever World Cup goal and Uruguay were the inaugural world champions, but both sides go into this match struggling to live up to their famous histories.
World Cup winners in 1998, France have under-performed since reaching the final of the 2006 World Cup and needed Thierry Henry's now infamous handball to qualify for this one. Unpopular coach Raymond Domenech has failed to get the best out of his talented squad, with a 1-0 defeat to China in their final warm-up match the latest in a run of abject performances since their early exit from Euro 2008.
As if distractions involving high-profile squad members and a prostitution network were not enough, the French have been beset by rumours of internal strife and expectations at home are at an all-time low.
Uruguay had their own troubles in qualifying and were the last team to clinch their place in South Africa after struggling to a play-off victory over Costa Rica, but there is no doubt Oscar Tabarez's side have the potential to be one of the tournament's surprise packages.
The two-time World Cup winners are blessed with a mixture of outstanding strikers, young talent and the old Uruguayan fighting spirit. Strikers Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez hit nearly 80 goals between them this season, and the pair will relish the opportunity to test a France side who appear to be in disarray.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- These sides have met on five previous occasions. Uruguay have won two to France's one, and there have been two draws. Their most recent meeting was a 0-0 friendly draw in November 2008, and they also shared a goalless draw at the 2002 World Cup.
Uruguay
- It is exactly eight years since La Celeste's last World Cup match, a 3-3 draw with Senegal on 11 June 2002.
- In 14 World Cup matches since reaching the semi-finals in 1970, Uruguay have mustered just one victory, a last-minute win over South Korea in 1990. The man in the dugout that day was current coach Oscar Tabarez.
France
- The last goal Les Bleus conceded against South American opposition at the World Cup came in a 1-1 quarter-final draw with Brazil in 1986. France went on to win the match on penalties and have since picked up three wins and a draw against South American sides.
- Les Bleus are playing in their 13th World Cup and have reached two of the last three finals.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)
Assistants: Toru Sagara (Japan) and Hae Sang Jeong (South Korea)
Fourth official: Joel Aguilar (Slovenia)
I'm thinking a French win (2-1)
Venue: Cape Town Stadium
Date: Friday, 11 June 2010
Kick-off: 19:30 BST
Coverage: BBC1, BBC HD and BBC Radio 5 live, live video and live text commentary on this website
TEAM NEWS
France coach Raymond Domenech looks set to leave Thierry Henry on the bench, with Nicolas Anelka taking over striker duties and Patrice Evra wearing the captain's armband. Centre back William Gallas has recovered from a knee injury and should start.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has named his side to face France. There are two changes to the side that defeated Israel 4-1 in the team's only World Cup warm-up match on 26 May. Mauricio Victorino replaces Colo Colo's Andres Scotti in defence and midfielder Egidio Arevalo is in for Napoli's Walter Gargano.
Starting XI: Fernando Muslera, Diego Lugano, Diego Godin, Mauricio Victorino, Diego Perez, Alvaro Pereira, Egidio Arevalo Rios, Ignacio Gonzalez, Maximiliano Pereira, Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez.
MATCH PREVIEW
A Frenchman scored the first-ever World Cup goal and Uruguay were the inaugural world champions, but both sides go into this match struggling to live up to their famous histories.
World Cup winners in 1998, France have under-performed since reaching the final of the 2006 World Cup and needed Thierry Henry's now infamous handball to qualify for this one. Unpopular coach Raymond Domenech has failed to get the best out of his talented squad, with a 1-0 defeat to China in their final warm-up match the latest in a run of abject performances since their early exit from Euro 2008.
As if distractions involving high-profile squad members and a prostitution network were not enough, the French have been beset by rumours of internal strife and expectations at home are at an all-time low.
Uruguay had their own troubles in qualifying and were the last team to clinch their place in South Africa after struggling to a play-off victory over Costa Rica, but there is no doubt Oscar Tabarez's side have the potential to be one of the tournament's surprise packages.
The two-time World Cup winners are blessed with a mixture of outstanding strikers, young talent and the old Uruguayan fighting spirit. Strikers Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez hit nearly 80 goals between them this season, and the pair will relish the opportunity to test a France side who appear to be in disarray.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- These sides have met on five previous occasions. Uruguay have won two to France's one, and there have been two draws. Their most recent meeting was a 0-0 friendly draw in November 2008, and they also shared a goalless draw at the 2002 World Cup.
Uruguay
- It is exactly eight years since La Celeste's last World Cup match, a 3-3 draw with Senegal on 11 June 2002.
- In 14 World Cup matches since reaching the semi-finals in 1970, Uruguay have mustered just one victory, a last-minute win over South Korea in 1990. The man in the dugout that day was current coach Oscar Tabarez.
France
- The last goal Les Bleus conceded against South American opposition at the World Cup came in a 1-1 quarter-final draw with Brazil in 1986. France went on to win the match on penalties and have since picked up three wins and a draw against South American sides.
- Les Bleus are playing in their 13th World Cup and have reached two of the last three finals.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)
Assistants: Toru Sagara (Japan) and Hae Sang Jeong (South Korea)
Fourth official: Joel Aguilar (Slovenia)