So, how do we beat them?

[davor_suker]

We all know about the big games coming up, and we know BOTH are good teams, and ill admit on paper that Uruguay are better but the game isnt played on paper and the ball is round, its designed to go anywhere on the pitch. That is to say, anything could happen.

Could a Uruguayan please post the most likely formation/lineup, and ill ask an Australian to do the same because im not so familiar with it these days.

Australia is a top heavy team, and arguably so is Uruguay, but one thing Uruguay does have is a solid back line. Diogo i have watched and he is a gun, and they have three quality keepers to choose from. I know Australia have no trouble knocking goals past most teams, but frankly they have been minor matches and the teams (Germany comes to mind specifically) didnt have their proper back line.

Both teams have solid midfields, and this is where the game will be won and lost. Uruguay have some magicians there ie- Recoba who can do a lot of damage, but Australia is strongest in the midfield as opposed to their other sections, which is why the game will be won and lost here.

Our defenders arent very good as we all know, and theyre certainly going to have to be aggressive. Zalayeta is a tank and can score good long range goals, and Forlan is a skillful player, not to mention Chevanton.

What are your thoughts?

[Wordsmyth]

I might be of help if someone reminds me which Uruguayan players are suspended from the first game because of yellow cards. I know that Lugano is out of the first match.

[strazzaque]

Lugano and Varela are out. Pouso too, but he's not even in the squad. I tried to clarify who was on yellow cards and had these names:

Forlan, Viera, Lago, Parodi, Lopez, Regueiro, Zalayeta, Perez, Garcia, Montero, Recoba and Morales

Also, both goalies are nursing injuries;
CARINI has a muscle strain and Viera a collarbone injury.

Defender Diego Lopez has a sciatica problem (OUCH!!)
Defensive midfielder Marcelo Sosa has an ankle problem.

[Wordsmyth]

Hmmm... it'll be interesting to see how many yellow cards we pick during the first match.

Some news from yesterday: Forlan had to leave his team's Champions League game because of an injury. I have no clue as to the severity of it.

[strazzaque]

I'm on it, will find out how severe his injury is from my hours of poring over the internet newsportals, English and Spanish (the free translations you get from spanish to english are worth it alone...)

[Wordsmyth]

Found it yesterday, and posted it in the WC2006 forum.

[thecolourofslee]

im guessing the aussie line up will be similar to what we saw against jamaica
i think we'll see something like this:

-----------kalac (could be either keeper)

----thwaite neill milicivic

emerton grella chipperfield

----bresciano cahill kewell

----------viduka


i personally dont think kewell will be up for it, but i have a feeling gus will throw him in there somewhere

[AusFootball]

im guessing the aussie line up will be similar to what we saw against jamaica
i think we'll see something like this:

-----------kalac (could be either keeper)

----thwaite neill milicivic

emerton grella chipperfield

----bresciano cahill kewell

----------viduka


i personally dont think kewell will be up for it, but i have a feeling gus will throw him in there somewhere

that line-up seems pretty close according to www.foxsports.com.au - they say kewell will start and thompson may also play. Bresciano "will certainly play" even though he is nursing an ankle injury

[thecolourofslee]

thats good news about marco.
and about our back line, ive heard vidmar might slot in somewhere instead of milicivic, i hope this isnt the case. sure he's been good in the past, but i reckon we need a young pacy backline. thwaite and milicivic are pushing for spots in the team and wont fear anything, and yeh i reckon tony's still having nightmares from 4 years ago.

[Wordsmyth]

FYI, I just posted the starting teams in the WC2006 subforum.