Uruguay Beat Portugal, Eye World Cup - HEYKAYJONES BLOG

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Saturday, 30 June 2018

Uruguay Beat Portugal, Eye World Cup


Coach Oscar Tabarez says Uruguay have set their sights on the World Cup final after an Edinson Cavani brace saw off Portugal in the last 16.
Uruguay – dark horses at the showpiece tournament – advanced to the quarter-finals thanks to Saturday's 2-1 victory against the European champions in Sochi.
Cavani, who picked up an injury late in the game, was the hero for Uruguay, scoring in each half to send Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal home from Russia.
Uruguay will next face France for a spot in the semi-finals and head coach Tabarez told reporters post-match at Fisht Stadium: "We are here to play all seven matches up until the final."
The South Americans had less possession than Portugal but they were far more clinical in the attacking third courtesy of Cavani along the coast of the Black Sea.
A stunning piece of combination play between Cavani and Luis Suarez resulted in an early lead – the duo playing two exceptional cross-field passes before the former opened the scoring with a header to shock Portugal.
Pepe managed to restore parity for Portugal 11 minutes into the second half, but Cavani stepped up again to put Uruguay 2-1 ahead seven minutes later.
Speaking about Uruguay's style and their willingness to concede possession, Tabarez said: "Ever since the World Cup in South Africa, the only team who had same level of possession was South Africa. We were fourth in the rankings. We had excellent results there [reaching the semi-finals].
"There is very often a mistaken assumption that possession leads to scoring chances. I learnt that [working] in Italy. In Italy we tried to improve. [Some things] led to not being able to play ball possession like that. We have to be strong in defence. Even if you don't have much possession, you can still inflict pain.
"We won't continue to play just like this but we will always choose the way that's best for us and the opponent allows us to play because the opponents are becoming more and more difficult. We are in the place we want to be but maybe not where most expect us to be."
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