| | |  News Around the Republic of Mexico 
Mexico, Uruguay Need Only Draw to Advance in World Cup
 Frank Griffiths - Associated Press
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June 21, 2010
| | Mexico's soccer team striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco runs during a practice session at a training camp outside Johannesburg June 20, 2010. Mexico will play against Uruguay in Rustenburg on June 22. (Reuters/Henry Romero) | |
Rustenburg, South Africa — Mexico and Uruguay need only a draw in their Group A match Tuesday to qualify for the next round of the World Cup, so both may choose to field more defensive lineups.
Mexico and Uruguay each have four points, while South Africa and France both have one point apiece. So, both France and the host nation will be eliminated from the World Cup if Mexico and Uruguay draw.
Mexico has fielded attacking lineups in its two previous matches, in a 4-3-3 formation. The strategy has won praise from pundits and other teams. Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino has said that Mexico is the best team he’s seen at the tournament so far.
The biggest decision Mexico coach Javier Aguirre will have to make for Tuesday’s match at Royal Bafokeng Stadium is who will be in his forward line.
Aguirre may choose to go with youngster Javier Hernandez over veteran Guillermo Franco, who started in Mexico’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in the opening match and the 2-0 win over France.
But it was the 22-year-old Hernandez who made headlines when he followed in the footsteps of his grandfather—who scored in the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland— by scoring the opening goal as a substitute against France.
Carlos Vela, who also started in the two previous matches, is not available because of a right leg injury, according to the Mexico football federation website. Aguirre may decide to go with Pablo Barrera, the forward who replaced Vela when he was injured late in the first half against France.
Barrera impressed against France in his first World Cup appearance and is a strong candidate to fill in.
“I’m happy because it’s my first World Cup,” he said. “It was my debut and we won. It’s the best thing that can happen to you.”
The forward believes Mexico shouldn’t be planning for a draw, but instead chase victory.
“We have to go for the three points to be certain about qualifying,” Barrera said. “We have to always do our best in each match and of course we want the three points.”
Mexico has an inferior goal difference to Uruguay, meaning it will finish second in the group in the event of a draw, and then would likely face a dominant Argentina in the round of 16. Aguirre will also be without midfielder Efrain Juarez, who is suspended after picking up two yellow cards.
Uruguay, meanwhile, was talking tough before the match.
“Mexico will be a difficult rival just as all the teams in the World Cup,” defender Diego Godin said. “They play good football, but we have the weapons to destroy their game and we know how to cause them damage.”
Uruguay has played well defensively and not conceded a goal in its two matches. The first match was a drab 0-0 draw against France, and Uruguay then beat South Africa 3-0.
Godin hopes Uruguay can keep up its defensive record against Mexico, saying a draw would suffice.
“We have not conceded a goal so far and that is very important,” he said. “If we do the same against Mexico, then we will have progressed to the next round and anything can happen from then on.”
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez announced Sunday that the team’s starting lineup will be the same as the one used in the win over South Africa. Forwards Diego Forlan, who scored twice and set up another goal, and Luis Suarez will lead the attack.
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