RUSTENBURG // Oscar Tabarez, the dapper and distinguished Uruguay manager, said his young team are coming of age after watching them defeat Mexico and finish top of Group A yesterday.
The former AC Milan coach believes his side are peaking at the perfect moment after enduring an indifferent qualifying campaign that saw them require a play-off against Costa Rica to book their place in South Africa.
"In the qualifying round we showed an irregular quality of play," said Tabarez, 63. "We had good moments and bad moments. But when we chose the players four years ago, they were lacking experience. We decided to choose these players with a perspective of going to the World Cup. We realised that if we managed to qualify, we would then have a better, more experienced team."
Before the game both Tabarez and Javier Aguirre, the Mexico coach, knew that defeat here would likely mean a second-round match with Argentina, barring a monumental South Africa win against France. Both sides were keen to avoid such a fate, having suffered at Argentina's hands in prominent matches.
Uruguay lost a crucial game to Argentina during qualifying, while it was an extra-time wonderstrike by Maxi Rodriguez of Argentina that knocked Mexico out of the 2006 World Cup.
"We wanted to get through to the last 16 and we have qualified, so I am happy," said Aguirre, whose side struggled to capitalise on their possession against the South Americans. "If it is Argentina, then it will be a nice opportunity to make up for what happened four years ago. We will be calm, though; we will talk about our performance and we have three marvellous days to prepare."
There had been speculation before the match that a deal had been struck to play out a draw and, in doing so, ensure both sides progressed. But from the first whistle the coaches' strong pre-game denials appeared justified.
A frantic pace was evident as Mexico, having displayed continuous waves of tricky attacks against the French five days earlier, started strongly, but Uruguay were dangerous on the break.
Andres Guardado, making his first start for the Mexicans in South Africa, struck the underside of the crossbar with a vicious left-footed drive from distance in the 23rd minute, but it was a fast counter from Uruguay on the stroke of half time that opened the scoring. Edinson Cavani's deep delivery from the right was met by the head of Luis Suarez, the prolific Ajax striker, at the back post.
With the news filtering through that South Africa were leading 10-man France 2-0 - meaning Mexico were only a two-goal swing from slumping out - Aguirre made an attack-minded change at half-time, replacing Guardado with Pablo Barrera, the Pumas forward. But it failed to bear fruit.
"We were lacking the right attitude," said the El Tri coach. "It was as if we really did not want to win the match; what we were missing was the desire to win."
Mexico's need for an equaliser was lessened by the news of Florent Malouda's goal for France, and they took their foot off the gas towards the end.
Uruguay celebrated at full time.
"We have not achieved our goal yet, but we have proved that Uruguay are a difficult opponent for anybody," Tabarez said. "We also know we have not lost a match yet. We may not be favourites, but we are a tightly bonded group and have lots of dreams in our minds."
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
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