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Uruguay v. Brazil Preview

May 31st, 2009 | By: Duvel | 5 Comments »

Uruguay v. Brazil
Saturday, June 6th, 3:00 P.M. Eastern
Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay

When my grandfather introduced me to the world of football, a key lesson concerned venues. Brazil had the Maracana, Argentina the Bombonera. A final venue would always come last, and he would hesitate before naming it. The Centenario. “Centenario” would typically be proceeded or preceeded by the words “Oh God.”

Maybe I am exaggerating due to the influence of my grandfather. He was at the Maracana in 1950, when Brazil spectacularly blew the World Cup at home, so perhaps he is just scarred by anything Uruguayan. Regardless, the mystique about the Centenario has been passed on to me, and in my mind this is one of the world’s most challenging stadiums. Brazil’s record at it speaks for itself, as only two wins have come inside the footballing cathedral of Montevideo.

In their last meeting Brazil, won 2-1 at the Morumbi in Sao Paulo back in November of ‘07. Uruguay is 4-3-5 overall, and undefeated at home with a 3-0-3 record, placing them in fifth spot of the qualifying table with 17 points after 12 rounds. Uruguay are led by the talismanic striker Diego Forlan, who this season at Atletico Madrid has been unbelievable, leading La Liga in goals with 32 goals in 33 matches. Cristian Rodriguez emerged has a formidable presence in the midfield for his club Porto, especially during their Champions League run. Collectively, this a solid Uruguayan side, and they will present a difficult challenge for Brazil on Saturday.

There are a couple of new additions to the Brazil squad following a couple of injuries to Alex and Anderson. In is Miranda as expected. Also in is former Manchester United bust, and Brazil veteran Kleberson of Flamengo. Kleberson over Hernanes OR Diego, that’s right.

Uruguay: Sebastian Viera (Villarreal), Juan Castillo (Botafogo), Martin Silva (Defensor Sporting); Diego Lugano (Fenerbahce), Carlos Valdez (Reggina), Andres Scotti (Argentinos Juniors), Diego Godin (Villarreal), Martan Caceres (Barcelona), Jorge Fucile (Porto), Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica), Bruno Silva (Ajax); Diego Perez (Monaco), Sebastian Eguren (Villarreal), Alvaro Pereira (CFR Cluj), Jorge Martinez (Catania), Cristian Rodriguez (Porto), Diego Arismendi (Nacional), Alvaro Fernandez (Nacional), Miguel Amado (Defensor Sporting), Diego De Souza (Defensor Sporting), Jorge Rodriguez (River Plate); Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid), Luis Suarez (Ajax), Sebastian Abreu (Real Sociedad), Edinson Cavani (Palermo).

Brazil: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Gomes (Tottenham Hotspur), Victor (Gremio), Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Miranda (Sao Paulo), Juan (AS Roma), Lucio (Bayern Munich), Luisao (Benfica), Kleber (Internacional), Andre Santos (Corinthians), Kleberson (Flamengo), Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Josue (VfL Wolfsburg), Ramires (Cruzeiro), Elano (Manchester City), Felipe Melo (Fiorentina), Julio Baptista (AS Roma), Kaka (AC Milan). Alexandre Pato (AC Milan), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Nilmar (Internacional), Robinho (Manchester City).

Projected Starting XI: Julio Cesar, Kleber, Juan, Lucio, Dani Alves, Gilberto Silva, Felipe Melo, Elano, Robinho, Kaka, Luis Fabiano

Prediction: 1-1 Draw

Tags: AC Milan, Ajax, Alexandre Pato, Alvaro Fernandez, Alvaro Pereira, Andre Santos, Andres Scotti, Argentinos Juniors, AS Roma, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Botafogo, Brazil, Bruno Silva, Carlos Valdez, Catania, CFR Cluj, Corinthians, Cristian Rodriguez, Cruzeiro, Daniel Alves, Defensor Sporting, Diego Arismendi, Diego De Souza, Diego Forlan, Diego Godin, Diego Lugano, Diego Perez, Dunga, Edinson Cavani, Elano, Felipe Melo, Fenerbahce, Fiorentina, Flamengo, Gilberto Silva, Gomes, Gremio, Group F, Inter Milan, Internacional, Jorge Fucile, Jorge Martinez, Jorge Rodriguez, Josue, Juan, Juan Castillo, Julio Baptista, Julio Cesar, Kaka, Kleber, Kleberson, Lucio, Luis Fabiano, Luis Suarez, Luisão, Maicon, Manchester City, Martan Caceres, Martin Silva, Maximiliano Pereira, Miguel Amado, Miranda, Monaco, Nacional, Nilmar, Palermo, Panathinaikos, Porto, Ramires, Real Sociedad, Reggina, River Plate, Road to Africa 2010, Robinho, São Paulo, Sebastian Abreu, Sebastian Eguren, Sebastian Viera, Sevilla, Tottenham Hotspur, Uruguay, Victor, Villarreal, Wolfsburg

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Comments

By Albo | June 1st, 2009 at 11:05 am

Nice article Duvel.
Brazil are a better over all team.
But with Forlan, one never knows. He’s fantastic.
Big game on Saturday.

Posted from United States

By Armando | June 1st, 2009 at 3:47 pm

Well considering this…

————Cesar
Maicon–Lucio–Juan–Alves
—–Kaka—Melo–Elano
–Fabiano—Pato–Robinho

…is Brazil’s best possible starting XI with those callups, they have a suprisingly weak squad (missing Diego, Amauri, Grafite, Ronaldinho, etc). Therefore, i think this is gonna be a close match, and Brazil better watch out defensively because Cavani and Forlan are two very dangerous strikers who can do serious damage.

By Duvel | June 1st, 2009 at 3:56 pm

Thanks for the comments. I would be surprised if Dunga started Pato. Although he is deserving, Dunga has never showing a real willingness to let him play. He loves Gilberto Silva so I think my projected starting XI, although not Brazil’s best, is the most likely.

By Jamie | June 3rd, 2009 at 6:50 pm

Worldwide, Uruguay has inexplicably cemented its status as Brazil’s kryptonite. (and France I suppose too).

I have never seen a nation consistantly beat Brazil or lose while making them wish they were never born.
(regardless of how bad Uruguay is doing). It’s a remarkable example of human psychology winning against nearly impossible odds (3 million vs. 200 million?)

I’ve been all around S. America. The name Brazil makes most shrink. But in Uruguay, it’s the equivalent of saying “We’re playing a bunch of 10 year olds”. I think 1950 will live on forever.

By Ureko | June 4th, 2009 at 9:05 am

Uruguay has too much football history. It’s a bit odd that they didnt get much attention because they werent good at the start of the internet age.

But now that info is finally getting around, people are seeing that they are not only one of the 5-6 main football nations on earth, but have more history than most of the elites!

Amazing for a country of 3 million!

Only newbies will say that “They dissapeared after 1950″. BS , they dominated world club football since then until 1990. Then had two of the best national teams in soccer history (1954, then 66 then 70).
Also forget about their copa america history. Basically sweeping the 60s and 80s.

Posted from Canada