Mexico v Uruguay

TEAM NEWS

Mexico will be without Arsenal striker Carlos Vela, who has been sidelined by a hamstring injury suffered in the win over France. Javier Hernandez or Pablo Barrera are expected to deputise. Efrain Juarez is suspended for two yellow cards, with Paul Aguilar the favourite to replace him.
Uruguay are expected to start with the same 11 that beat South Africa 3-0. Nicolas Lodeiro is available again following a one-match suspension.
One booking from suspension: Torrado, Franco, Moreno, Rodriguez (Mexico); Victorino, Lugano (Uruguay)

MATCH PREVIEW

The shadow cast by one of the most controversial episodes in football history provides the backdrop to Tuesday's meeting between Mexico and Uruguay.
A draw at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Tuesday would be enough to send both countries through to the last 16, leading some to wonder whether the two Latin American countries will contrive the necessary result. That was what happened in Spain in 1982 when West Germany and Austria knew a 1-0 win for Germany in their final group game would see both sides advance and eliminate Algeria. Horst Hrubesch gave the Germans an early lead and the two sides played out the rest of the 'contest' at walking pace.
Fifa have dismissed fears that Mexico and Uruguay may conspire to draw, and there is every reason to believe Mexico will go for the win - three points would see them finish top of the group and avoid likely Group B winners Argentina in the next round.
Both sides could even progress with a defeat, depending on the result between France and South Africa in Tuesday's other group A match.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
- In 17 previous meetings, Mexico have won seven to Uruguay's three, with seven draws.
- Mexico's first World Cup clean sheet came against Uruguay, in a goalless draw in 1966.
- A solitary strike by current Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was enough to secure a 1-0 win over Uruguay in April 1986.

Mexico
- Mexico have reached the last 16-stage at the past four World Cup finals. Their last exit at the group stage came in 1978.
- As coach of Atl�tico Madrid, Mexico boss Javier Aguirre signed Uruguayan striker Diego Forl�n from Villarreal in 2007.

Uruguay
- The last time Uruguay reached the last 16 at the World Cup was in 1990, also under coach Oscar Tabarez.
- Uruguay have now kept two clean sheets in a row. They have never kept three consecutive clean sheets at the World Cup.
- Their 3-0 win against South Africa was their biggest World Cup victory since beating Scotland 7-0 in 1954.

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
Assistants: Gabor Eros and Tibor Vamos (Hungary)
Fourth official: Martin Hansson (Sweden)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_33/default.stm

Would love to see Mexico win. Not without skill, and better attitude overall. A Arg v Uru 2nd round game could be quite a spectacle.

Hmm, think they'll go for the win with second place to play Argentina.

Man this watching two games thing is tricky!

indeed

I'm watching this game, and refreshing the other thread and flicking channels to catch the goals.

come on Uruguay, get another to really make Mexico panic.... (i'm only following on FIFA match cast, so have little idea to what the game actually looks like)

It looked fairly even in the first half, but I thought Uruguay looked better with the ball. Mexico are completely dominant in the second.