Uruguay beaten 3-1 by Costa Rica in 2014 Fifa World Cup

It looked like a Goliath versus David affair from the onset, yet there was a side of Costa Rica to see. They were eager to push forward without fear and make a statement in a motivated way. They had made 5 entries into the attacking third by the 10^th minute. The nervousness in defence was obvious as they were to concede consecutive free-kicks including the one that led to the penalty converted by Cavani.

Uruguay played with a lot of width and tried to break the 5-men defence with crisp passing. Wasteful finishing by both Cavani and Diego Forlan counted for nothing until the rugby tackle on Lugano. Cavani slotted the ball in the right bottom corner of the net despite the goalkeeper guessing right. Thereafter, the former champions’ attempts were restricted to outside the penalty area. Despite that drawback, Costa Rica showed character by their positive response pushing for an equaliser. Their 1-5-3-2 coped well with the conventional 1-4-4-2 of Costa Rica.

The second half started with an injected pace in the Costa Rican attack as they ran at the Uruguayan defence. An exchange of passes on the right wing and the resultant cross eluded the Uruguay defence and found an unmarked Joe Campbell who controlled the ball and rifled a canon past Muslera to equalise. It was one such run in the middle of the defence that led to a free-kick that was neatly taken to the far post and headed home by Duarte for a 2-1 lead within minutes. It took courage as the low ball attracted a boot of a defender in a failed bid to clear.

Thenceforth, Uruguay threw kitchen sinks and all at the minnows who did not crack under pressure. They managed the lead well, composed themselves and frustrated their more illustrious opponents in midfield as they curled into a 1-5-4-1 formation. The frantic defending got into the nerves of Uruguay as they lost their cool and composure.

A ball lost on the right side of midfield was passed down the line and then played through to Urena who raced into the box attraction the attention of Muslera who tried to narrow the angle. The attacker raised his head, saw the onrushing keeper and tucked in a low ball past him to hammer the final nail in the coffin of Uruguay. Adding salt to injury, Uruguay lost a man at the death as a momentary rush of blood in the head left the referee with no option but to send him off.

It turned out as it looked, a David versus Goliath, and the result was no different from the actual ancient events, David killing Goliath.

South Africa vs Ghana At Soccer City.

This fixture, to take place on the 7th of August 2010, until further notice shall be best dubbed South Africa versus Black Stars of Ghana because the South African football team are nameless. The match will take place at the currently nameless stadium that we will risk calling Soccer City for the benefit of those who want to go and watch the misser of a crucial final second penalty, at the same venue of that horrible and embarrassing deed, Asamoah Gyan. Michael Essien may be in the 18 area for that one.

The South Africa football bosses are trying to come out with a new name for the team. South African Rugby Union want the High Court to change the name of a Football Cathedral to National Stadium so they can play rugby with Australia on the 21st of August 2010. A naming rights company say the name must revert back to being FNB because FIFA asked SAFA not to use branded names for their World Cup stadia during the World Cup. It sounds like someone somewhere is crazy, and crazy indeed. By the way, as a condition to the rugby, NO VUVUZELA. Now I think the crazy one here is me, cause I just don't understand where this is going or is coming from.

Talking about crazy stuff, Ghana will roll into Mzansi haunted by the crazy Luis Suarez who was a nightmare to them not so long ago with those common knowledge antics. For South Africa, there won't be ant Diego Forlan, thank God. They will remember how all Africans rallied behind them and even cried in that sympathetic ordeal with Uruguay in the 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter-final. Black Stars, tough luck. While there will be no love lost, the World Cup has ended, the honey moon is over. South Africans will be rooting for South Africa. Each man for himself now and only God for us all.

Before we leave Forlan and Suarez, the pair are unlikely to feature in the Uruguay friendly with Angola. It will be a short change for the African football to be denied the class act of a football supremest Diego Forlan. As for Suarez, it is the best that could happen for the continent at this time of mourning. That is Angolan stuff, and it must be in Portuguese, so obrigado!

As for South Africa, there is a baptism of fire for new SA coach, Pitso Mosimane. He has to bring together a squad of his taste, cool down the hyper hang-over of having played in the World Cup. All eyes will be on his strategy and influence on the players and his style. He will do well to absorb the pressure and win the English-like press. There is no way Pitso will escape the comparison of both Joel Santana and Carlos Alberto Parreira. You can't help but wish the guy luck.

Ghana, on their part are a force in world football. They will be pushing their luck to maintain their status as Africa's cream. For those who are into traditional beer like myself, it is a match I would not miss, as a 'vanya'.

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South Africa vs Ghana At Soccer City.

This fixture, to take place on the 7th of August 2010, until further notice shall be best dubbed South Africa versus Black Stars of Ghana because the South African football team are nameless. The match will take place at the currently nameless stadium that we will risk calling Soccer City for the benefit of those who want to go and watch the misser of a crucial final second penalty, at the same venue of that horrible and embarrassing deed, Asamoah Gyan. Michael Essien may be in the 18 area for that one.

The South Africa football bosses are trying to come out with a new name for the team. South African Rugby Union want the High Court to change the name of a Football Cathedral to National Stadium so they can play rugby with Australia on the 21st of August 2010. A naming rights company say the name must revert back to being FNB because FIFA asked SAFA not to use branded names for their World Cup stadia during the World Cup. It sounds like someone somewhere is crazy, and crazy indeed. By the way, as a condition to the rugby, NO VUVUZELA. Now I think the crazy one here is me, cause I just don't understand where this is going or is coming from.

Talking about crazy stuff, Ghana will roll into Mzansi haunted by the crazy Luis Suarez who was a nightmare to them not so long ago with those common knowledge antics. For South Africa, there won't be ant Diego Forlan, thank God. They will remember how all Africans rallied behind them and even cried in that sympathetic ordeal with Uruguay in the 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter-final. Black Stars, tough luck. While there will be no love lost, the World Cup has ended, the honey moon is over. South Africans will be rooting for South Africa. Each man for himself now and only God for us all.

Before we leave Forlan and Suarez, the pair are unlikely to feature in the Uruguay friendly with Angola. It will be a short change for the African football to be denied the class act of a football supremest Diego Forlan. As for Suarez, it is the best that could happen for the continent at this time of mourning. That is Angolan stuff, and it must be in Portuguese, so obrigado!

As for South Africa, there is a baptism of fire for new SA coach, Pitso Mosimane. He has to bring together a squad of his taste, cool down the hyper hang-over of having played in the World Cup. All eyes will be on his strategy and influence on the players and his style. He will do well to absorb the pressure and win the English-like press. There is no way Pitso will escape the comparison of both Joel Santana and Carlos Alberto Parreira. You can't help but wish the guy luck.

Ghana, on their part are a force in world football. They will be pushing their luck to maintain their status as Africa's cream. For those who are into traditional beer like myself, it is a match I would not miss, as a 'vanya'.

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