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World Cup Day 16 match previews - Second round gets underway
While they might be considered the weakest quartet in the last 16, there isn’t likely to be a lack of drama and passion, and the knock-out stage of the World Cup gets underway. The first game see’s a solid, and free scoring Uruguay take on the battling South Koreans, while the late game see’s United States and Ghana continue their rollercoaster campaigns with plenty on the line.
  URUGUAY vs. SOUTH KOREA
3.00pm –Port Elizabeth Stadium, Nelson Mandela Bay
The winners of Group A, Uruguay, will be looking to reach their first World Cup semi-final for 40 years, and the start of that quest begins against a South Korea side, who know all about the knock-out stages of world cup. They of course reached the semi-final in 2002, knocking out Spain and Italy before eventually being toppled by Germany, and a favorable draw could see either of these sides’ repeat their triumphs from Yesteryear.
Of course the Uruguayans have won the competition twice during its early years and will be looking to repeat that triumph during a tournament that they’ve thoroughly impressed in, not least at the back, where they are yet to concede a goal under the stewardship of skipper Diego Lugano and Diego Godin. South Korea are naturally light-weight on the ball, industrious in the middle of the park and an all together exciting outfit, but its only when you strip down the team, away from the clichés of Asians teams you learn the Koreans are a force. Their cavalier attitude almost paid dividends against Argentina, while a solid performance against Nigeria secured their passage. The role of Lee Chung Yong, the tireless midfielder from Bolton Wanderers is likely to be key.
  UNITED STATES vs. GHANA
19.30pm –Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
The contrasting fortunes that saw both of these side’s qualified is likely to have a huge bearing on the eventual result of this second last-16 encounter. USA scored in the final minute against Algeria to confirm their spot, while Ghana could afford to lose 1-0 to Germany, relinquish top spot in Group D, and still make it through. Looking at their results you can hardly begrudge Ghana’s spot in the knockout rounds, even if two penalty kicks have secured both of the victories.
The real issues for Ghana lies in attack and even with Asamoah Gyan fit and firing, they look short of ideas, and when they do get them, short of a finishing touch. In the cut and thrust nature of knock-out football its important to take your chances when you get them. Although Bob Bradley’s side have been guilty of missing some opportunities during the group stage, they still came away with four goals, and an unbeaten record. You get the feeling that although United States will miss chances, they’ll always create enough to find the net, while Ghana can become disheartened by continual failure. It is difficult to forget the African factor, in that Ghana are the only side from this continent that are still alive in the competition, so the support behind them will be immense, whether they can produce a performance to boot, is as yet unclear.
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