Uruguay are understandably favourites for their quarterfinal clash with Ghana but the two-time winners look short enough to me and I’ll be happy to take them on at the prices.
South American teams have performed admirably at World Cup 2010, four sides have reached the last eight, but we saw how hard Paraguay found it to get past Japan when the pressure was on and I couldn’t be backing Uruguay at a fraction over even money on Friday.
Uruguay, and in particular strikers Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez, have impressed in South Africa and reached the quarterfinals at the expense of South Korea.
Suarez was on target twice in Uruguay’s 2-1 win over the Asian side in the last 16 but it is Forlan who leads the line so fantastically and his growing reputation has only been enhanced over the last three weeks with a string over superb displays.
It has all been relatively plain sailing so far for Uruguay but with so much now resting on the outcome, a likely semi-final with Brazil awaits the winners, the stakes have been raised and nobody involved on Friday will have played in a match of this magnitude before.
I rated Ghana as likely first round casualties in South Africa but the Black Stars continue to fly the flag for the host continent and probably deserved their extra-time win over USA in the second round.
Asamoah Gyan has been the star of the show so far for Ghana, on target three times already in South Africa, but he faces a race against time to be fit for this and his absence would be a huge blow for the underdogs were he ruled out.
There is plenty of strength elsewhere however, Kevin-Prince Boateng has stood out in midfield, and Milovan Rajevac’s men won’t fear the South Americans.
Seeking to become the first ever African side to reach the last four on the World stage, Cameroon got so close in 1990, Ghana must be supported to take the tie into at least another 30 minutes and they might just get the job done earlier than that.
The draw has been kind to both and Uruguay and Ghana will be hoping to take full advantage by advancing to a once-in-a-lifetime clash with Brazil, or possibly Holland.
2pts Lay Uruguay (vs. Ghana) @ 2.18 (Betfair)