Audio By Carbonatix
Uruguay coach Oscar Taberez said on Wednesday injured defender Diego Godin would miss the World Cup quarter-final match against Ghana as he named his side a full 48 hours before the match.
Mauricio Victorino, who performed well after coming on for Godin at halftime against South Korea, will start in his place in Friday's match, Tabarez told a news conference.
Godin, a stalwart in a backline that has conceded only one goal in four matches, sustained a thigh injury in the 2-1 victory over South Korea.
"He is not fully recovered. He is not in the team because in my opinion he is not 100 percent fit," Taberez said, adding he was not sure if Godin would even be on the substitutes' bench. We still have 48 hours," the coach said.
Tabarez also said he would bring in Alvaro Fernandez for Alvaro Pereira in midfield.
The coach, known as The Master because of his days as a schoolteacher, often names his team well before a match. Asked by reporters to do so on Wednesday, he simply shrugged his shoulders and rapidly reeled off the names. They were Fernando Muslera, Diego Lugano, Mauricio Victorino, Jorge Fucile, Maximiliano Pereira, Diego Perez, Egidio Arevalo, Edinson Cavani, Alvaro Fernandez, Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan.
Uruguay's South Africa campaign has been their most successful since 1970, when they came fourth. They failed to qualify for five of the nine tournaments since then, denting the pride of a small nation that cherishes the memory of their World Cup triumphs in 1930 and 1950.
Although coach and players are not underestimating the power and pace of Ghana, the South Americans have a realistic chance of beating the Africans and going through to the semi-finals. The defence, marshalled by captain Diego Lugano, denied early opponents France, South Africa and Mexico any goals and they conceded just one to South Korea.
Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez have clicked in attack, scoring five goals between them. The ever-patient Tabarez said his team were well prepared for the match. "We are calm. But we know the important thing is the match, not how we feel today," he said.
The squad leave their base camp in Kimberley, their home for the past month, for the last time on Wednesday afternoon and will set up camp in Johannesburg.
Source:gfmsports.com
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
CAF CL 2026/27: GoldStars CEO calls for adequate preparation ahead of Medeama clash against TP Mazembe
43 seconds -
Synthetic drugs pose growing challenge to Ghana’s anti-drug fight – Muntaka
8 minutes -
A tribute to Dr. Isaac Bampoe Addo
8 minutes -
Ghana removed 2,281 migrant beggars, 774 illegal immigrants in 2025 – Interior Minister
9 minutes -
Gov’t traces 73 assets linked to suspected drug trafficking networks – Muntaka
10 minutes -
Over 8,500kg of narcotics seized in 20 months – Muntaka
13 minutes -
Asantehene to tee off Millennium Excellence Week in Washington DC
14 minutes -
June 29 floods killed 39, affected nearly 92,000 people – Muntaka
16 minutes -
Barosky stranded on Manchester streets, appeals for help to return to GhanaÂ
18 minutes -
UAE bought $1m worth of flood relief items locally for June 29 victims – Muntaka
18 minutes -
2026 LCB Corporate Games underway with 16 port and logistics firms
22 minutes -
Government freezes GH¢6.9m and $440,000 linked to suspected drug trafficking
23 minutes -
217 arrested, 165 prosecutions initiated in drug crackdown – Interior Minister
25 minutes -
CDD-Ghana calls for new law to regulate political party financing, campaign spending
29 minutes -
NPP supporters throng party headquarters as Justin Kodua and others file nominations
30 minutes