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Uruguay Camp Focus - Fighting spirit and experience to see Uruguay through to final.
Uruguay faces Peru on Tuesday in the first semi-final of the Copa America. The match will be a replay of the opening fixture of Group C, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Since then, both teams have continued to improve and grow in strength. Both arguably upset the odds in their previous ties to reach Tuesday’s game.
In the Santa Fé stadium, nicknamed “The Elephant’s Graveyard,” La Celeste overcame their fierce local rivals and hosts Argentina 5-4 on penalties a.e.t in a tense and exciting match. Uruguay played to the strengths that coach Oscar Tabárez has instilled in this squad - unity, determination, organisation and spirit. The Charruas triumphed despite losing Diego “the Russian” Perez to a second yellow card in the 38th minute and playing nearly all the second half with 10 men. Their battling performance was epitomised by Alvaro Rios in midfield, captain Diego Lugano in defence and especially by man of the match, goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who made a series of excellent saves from the Argentinian front men. Arguably the difference between the two teams was that whilst the Albiceste may have the more talented players, Uruguay are a team. As the coach told reporters, "I am very happy. This is one of the oldest classics in the world. Historically, it's very hard for us to beat Argentina. We have that fighting spirit in ourselves, and not just as Uruguayans, but in this team, specifically. It was the same way at the World Cup. We never had more ball possession than our rivals, but we generated more scoring opportunities."
The win over Argentina came 61 years to the day after World Cup final victory over Brazil. As striker Sebastian Abreu confirmed: "We had sworn that July 16 we could not lose, we wanted to have another July 16 to remember not only the Maracana.”
After a weekend which saw all four underdogs proceed, Uruguay are themselves now the favourites. Tabárez will not be taking anything for granted against Peru, saying, “The teams are equal, Peru is not just another team anymore, they are level with us.” Uruguay may hold the historical advantage over their opponents, with 11 wins and two draws in their 19 Copa meetings, but they have not beaten La Rojiblanca in the tournament for 28 years.
La Celeste will definitely be missing the suspended Perez. Team doctor Alberto Pan has also told Radio 1010 that striker Edinson Cavani and defender Mauricio Victorino have not recovered from injury and will miss the match. It is expected that the young centre back Sebastian Coates will come into the defence after suspension, though Diego Godin – Lugano’s normal partner – who has been unfit to play in the tournament so far did come through a training session yesterday and will be available for selection.
The match should be close, with both teams relying on defence to reach this stage. Uruguay may have the edge with the squad’s experience in reaching the final four of last year’s World Cup, but considering the number of surprises in this tournament to date, who knows.
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