Uruguay Vs Ghana Preview & Free Picks. Ghana is looking to become the first African team to ever qualify for a World Cup semifinal when it plays Uruguay Friday. The Uruguayans are looking to reach the semis for the first time in forty years.
The Black Stars have shown some resilience and gave Germany a tough fight in a 1-0 group-stage loss. They are a difficult team to play against as they know how to disrupt their opponents’ attack. They also can create scoring chances and put pressure on the opposing defense.
Ghana is playing the tournament without injured superstar Michael Essien, but the side has made up for the loss and played a good tournament. Their biggest problem is scoring. They put two balls in the net against the USA in the 2-1 extra-time victory in the Round-of-16. However, they benefited from defensive lapses on both goals.
Their only other scores in the entire tournament came on penalty kicks. They seem to do everything right until they get to the box, but then fail to score. Asamoah Gyan has been the major reason why the team was able to compensate for Essien’s loss. He has scored three of Ghana’s four goals.
He has gotten help from Kevin-Prince Boateng, who was born in Germany and played for German youth and junior national sides all his life. He decided to represent his father’s home country Ghana in the World Cup and has made the best of this opportunity.
Both Gyan and Boateng are battling injuries, but it looks like they will be ready to go Friday. The absence of either one of them would be a big blow to the Ghanaian side. Midfielder Andre Ayew and defender Jonathan Mensah will miss the match due to suspensions after receiving their second yellow card respectively in the Round-of-16.
Ghana will have home continent advantage, and Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg will be packed with vuvuzela-blowing fans cheering their fellow African’s on.
Uruguay’s defense has been rock solid all tournament long. La Celeste has done great with its strategy to play from a strong defense and look to score on its dangerous counter attacks. Strikers Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez are the perfect players for this system and they have succeeded at this World Cup.
Forlan has two goals and Suarez has three. They have combined for five of the side’s six goals in the tournament, with Alvaro Pereira getting the other score.
Uruguay went through the group-stage without conceding a single goal. They allowed a score in their Round-of-16 win against South Korea, but they have made it very difficult for opponents to score. With Ghana having problems putting the ball in the net, and Uruguay fielding one of the best defenses in the tournament, we should see La Celeste come away with a victory.
The Uruguayans are the favorites going into the match and they are looking to end a long dry spell. They were World Cup Champions in 1930 and 1950, but haven’t made it to the semifinals since 1970.
They are the better team than Ghana, and I think they will come away with a victory in regulation. If you agree, go to Pinnacle (+113) or 5Dimes (+109) for the best lines. If you want to play it safer, pick them to advance, no matter if the game goes to extra times and penalties or not! Go to 5Dimes for a -190 line.
