Forlan rules out English return

Uruguay striker Diego Forlan has ruled out ever returning to the Premier League although he insists he has fond memories of his time with Manchester United. The 31-year-old has scored three goals as Uruguay have made their way to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ semi-finals where they face the Netherlands tonight.

Forlan was an integral part of the Atletico Madrid side that won the UEFA Europa League, scoring a vital goal against Liverpool in the semi-final before his late strike secured the trophy for the Spanish side in the final against Fulham.

However, he endured a turbulent two-and-half-year period in England when he took 27 games to score for Manchester United and he left for Villarreal in August 2004. Now Forlan maintains he will never return to play in England despite being linked with Tottenham.

I will never play in England again but I still actually look back with fond memories at some moments.

Diego Forlan, Uruguay striker

"Tottenham are a club who are going in the right direction but I have no interest in joining the Premier League with any club," he said. "For a start, Spain is much hotter and also it is my home now.

"We have some very exciting young players and I am excited for the season. I will never play in England again but I still actually look back with fond memories at some moments."

Recalling his time at Old Trafford, Forlan believes he could have struck up a good partnership with Wayne Rooney whose arrival coincided with his departure. "I was very young at Manchester United and I feel that I was just starting to find my feet when I was sold and Rooney was brought in. If we had been paired together I think we could have formed the most devastating strike partnership in Europe but it wasn't to be."

Tabarez: The pressure is on the Dutch

Tuesday 6 July 2010

AFP

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez believes the pressure is all on the Netherlands when they play their 2010 FIFA World Cup™ semi-final at the Green Point Stadium tonight.

The Dutch have been a football nation of underachievers since they reached back-to-back FIFA World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978. And while Uruguay have won the trophy twice, in 1930 and 1950, Tabarez said: "The Dutch side will feel the burden of expectation far more than us. No-one really believes in us and the possibility we might win.

"We have to enjoy the World Cup and the match, make the most of it, because we know millions will be watching these players. This is a challenge, but also a reason for great happiness."

The Netherlands won all eight of their qualifying matches and have a 100 per cent record in five matches in South Africa, including knocking out Brazil 2-1 in the quarter-final. Tabarez believes the key to his team's success is keeping Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben under control.

He's very fast, very nimble, very long strides. When he shifts his body, it's difficult to react.

Oscar Tabarez, Uruguay coach on Arjen Robben

"He's a great footballer," said Tabarez. "He's very fast, very nimble, very long strides. When he shifts his body, it's difficult to react. With Robben back, this Holland side benefits greatly. They were already very good without him, but now they have him contributing as well."

Tabarez admits Uruguay have not played brilliantly at this FIFA World Cup but still dreams of the South Americans returning to former glories, even if they are hampered by the attraction of Europe's money-laden leagues.

"We have a long way to go," he said. "The world nowadays is very different to that in the first half of the 20th century, when Uruguay hardly lost a match. The gap is widening more and more between the first and the third world. There is increasing independence of players going to Europe to earn their trade and that weakens our football. It would be a dream to become a footballing power again, but the world hasn't changed because we've won a few matches."

Uruguay versus Europe in last four

The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ has reached the semi-final stage, with sole South American survivors Uruguay standing alone against the cream of Europe’s representatives. La Celeste are in action on Tuesday evening against an increasingly confident Netherlands side, while Germany take on Spain on Wednesday in a repeat of the UEFA EURO 2008 final.

No member of that illustrious quartet has looked more impressive than the Germans, who put four past England in the Round of 16 and then dished out similar treatment to Argentina in the quarter-finals. Their upcoming opponents did not look quite as impressive in disposing of Portugal and Paraguay in the same rounds, the European champions edging through on both occasions thanks to opportunistic strikes by David Villa.

Uruguay have had to battle hard to take their place in the last four, downing Korea Republic 2-1 in the last 16 before ending African hopes with a nerve-wracking shootout win over Ghana. Oscar Tabarez’s side will need to summon up their famed resolve against the Dutch, who are on a high after seeing off Brazil 2-1.

The matches
Uruguay-Netherlands, 6 July, Cape Town, 20.30
Germany-Spain, 7 July, Durban, 20.30

The big game
Germany-Spain

Much has changed in the two years since a Fernando Torres goal put Michael Ballack’s Germany to the sword in the final of EURO 2008. With the injured Ballack watching from the stands and Torres still struggling to recapture his goalscoring touch, it is the youthful Germans and not the Spanish who have been catching the eye with their high-tempo football.

Coach Joachim Low has unleashed a new generation of talented tyros including Thomas Muller and Mesut Ozil, two of the spearheads of a squad with an average age of only 24.9. Low can also count on a rejuvenated Miroslav Klose. Little used last season by Bayern Munich, the veteran goalgetter is closing in fast on Ronaldo’s all-time FIFA World Cup™ scoring record.

Not to be outdone, Vicente del Bosque can call on a lethal finisher of his own in Barcelona new boy Villa, the leading marksman at South Africa 2010 with five goals in all. And while the Spaniards have yet to move the ball around with their customary élan, they still carry a threat too potent for most teams and boast an exceptional supporting cast that includes the livewire Pedro, whose services could be called upon if extra-time beckons.

Whether this game is decided in 90 minutes or not, there should be plenty of goals and entertainment in store.

In focus
Diego Forlan v The Big Four

Deprived of strike sidekick Luis Suarez, who is suspended, the Atletico Madrid forward knows that Uruguay’s destiny in the competition lies squarely on his shoulders. Forlan has already hit three vital goals in South Africa and will not be lacking in motivation when he sets out to add to that haul on Tuesday. Unlike his opposite number Tabarez, Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk has an embarrassment of riches up front. While Dutch fans are hoping to see the Big Four of Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Dirk Kuyt and Robin van Persie ride together once more, they also have the security of knowing that trusty understudies Ryan Babel, Eljero Elia, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Rafael van der Vaart are all waiting in the wings.

What they said
"It will be like a final. We know them. We are a very offensive team and they are maybe the most exciting team at this World Cup," Fernando Torres, Spain striker.

Tabarez promises hard fight

Oscar Tabarez insists Uruguay will be taking their match for third place against Germany very seriously. The La Celeste boss is adamant there will be no hang-over from their semi-final loss to the Netherlands.

"This is a very difficult game," he said. "Yes, fourth position is not the same as others, but we will go in with the same commitment and enthusiasm like we did in the encounter against Holland. We have no assurance that we will win, but we will prepare ourselves to fight to the death."

The South Americans, who shocked many by reaching the last four in South Africa, were finally beaten on Tuesday when they went down to a spirited 3-2 loss to the Dutch. It has been a memorable competition for the two-time champions, having last reached the semi-finals 40 years ago.

Tabarez also expected Germany to come out fighting in the game in Port Elizabeth. He continued: "At the moment, Germany and Uruguay have both secured fourth place by reaching the semi-final. But the challenge for Uruguay is to finish third in the World Cup. I know Germany and they will make it very difficult for us, so we must fight hard to win."

Tabarez also tipped Spain to win Sunday's Final in Johannesburg. He added: "For this kind of game, I think the defence will be a key element. And I think Spain is a little better than Holland in this area and they are also very good with possession overall.

"They keep the ball very well. It's a prototype of the Barcelona team - the movement, the style - but this is not to say that Spain does not have its own personality. They play a really special brand of football and I think they can win."

Tabarez keen to stay with Uruguay

Oscar Tabarez would like to continue as Uruguay coach after guiding them to fourth place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup - their best finish in 40 years. The 63-year-old, who is in his second spell as coach after taking them to the last 16 at the 1990 finals, is out of contract but admitted following the 3-2 defeat by Germany that his enthusiasm for the job was greater than ever.

"I am nearer to the end of my career than the beginning, but I feel fine physically," said Tabarez, who has also turned his hand to teaching and is nicknamed 'The Professor'. "It would interest me to continue with Uruguay, but it is not the time to be speaking about that," added Tabarez.

It would interest me to continue with Uruguay, but it is not the time to be speaking about that.

Oscar Tabarez, Uruguay coach

He said that he did not want to be seen to be laying down terms to the national federation. "I don't want to give the impression that I am demanding something," said Tabarez, who has been in the post since 2006. "But from this evening (Saturday), my contract is at an end and I am no longer national team coach. Everything will depend on the offers that may be proposed."

'Best year' turns sour for Forlan

Diego Forlan left Cape Town devastated last night but at least able to look back on the best year of his career. Not even a good luck text from Sir Alex Ferguson could help Forlan inspire Uruguay to victory against the Netherlands, with the Dutch going on to register a 3-2 win.

The Atletico Madrid star did manage to score his fourth goal of the tournament to cancel out Giovanni van Bronckhorst's opener, but goals from Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben, left Forlan to pick the positives out of a season where he won the UEFA Europa League, before reaching the last four of the FIFA World Cup™, eclipsing the achievements of South American rivals Brazil and Argentina.

It has been the best year of my career. But we are still so disappointed because we were so close to a World Cup final and we have missed a great chance.

Diego Forlan, Uruguay striker

"It has been the best year of my career," said the 31-year-old. "Winning the Europa League with Atletico Madrid, reaching that final and then reaching another semi-final of the World Cup is just great. But we are still so disappointed because we were so close to a World Cup final and we have missed a great chance."

Forlan did not complete last night's game after succumbing to a thigh problem he had before the match started. Without suspended strike partner Luis Suarez, coach Oscar Tabarez had no choice but to pile the responsibility onto his captain and Forlan ended up paying the price, making him a major doubt for Saturday's third-place play-off in Port Elizabeth.

"I had some tiredness in my thigh when I started the game and it was difficult," he said. "I was limping and I was trying to stay in the game but in the end I could not help anybody. I hope to be fit for Saturday, I want to play for that third place because even that would be great for everyone. Then I hope to have a big holiday because I am really tired."

"Garra Charrua"

It will be some time before memories of Uruguay's performance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ fade. For the first time in 40 years, La Celeste claimed a top-four finish in the world finals, quite an achievement for the very last team to qualify for the competition.

"Overall it's been a very good tournament for us because we've played the seven games we came here to play," said talismanic striker Diego Forlan, talking exclusively to FIFA.com. "Uruguay are the fourth-best team in the world. And we've got nothing to moan about because we achieved some big things and we were just a step away from reaching the Final, with everything that means. The team brought the country together and gave the youngsters something they'd never seen before. That just goes to show that a group of players focused on a specific set of objectives can achieve important results."

The last time Uruguay had reached the last four was at Mexico 1970, when they also fell to Germany in the match for third place. "It was important to try and finish third and it would have been nice to go back to Uruguay with a win, especially against a team like Germany," added Forlan. "Losing isn't going to change our view of the tournament, though."

The scorer of five goals in all, the blond-haired front man was the star attraction of Los Charrúas' surprise showing, his performances earning him the adidas Golden Ball in the process. One of only two South American players in the running for the coveted player of the tournament award, Forlan enhanced his status as a world star in South Africa. But he is first and foremost a team player. "I'm happy on a personal level but I'm also delighted to have helped the team succeed. It doesn't matter whether I score goals, make passes or have to mark opponents, I'm happy to help the team fight for big objectives. I knew people had invested their hopes in me and I just accepted that as well as I could. I'm happy I didn't let my team-mates or the fans down."

We showed that you can compete if you do things right but I want this to be seen as a starting point rather than as an end in itself.

Diego Lugano, Uruguay captain

Looking to the future
While there are doubts as to whether coach Oscar Tabarez will continue in the post, with the man himself saying it is too soon to decide, Uruguay captain Diego Lugano believes the future is bright. "Uruguay are a young team. This was the first World Cup for everyone, apart from Forlan and [Sebastian] Abreu. We played to a really high standard and my feeling is that we have to set ourselves the challenge of getting this far again."

With an average age of 27 years and one month, Uruguay were the 11th-youngest of the 32 qualifiers. The likes of Lugano, Forlan and Diego Perez will have entered their 30s by the time Brazil 2014 comes around, but young guns Fernando Muslera, Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, Diego Godin, Maximiliano Pereira and Alvaro Pereira, all of them prominent figures here, will be in their footballing prime in four years. "Can we make the last four again?" said Forlan. "We need to enjoy the moment and then look back at what we did, how we did it and why we got as far as this. There are still another four years to go till Brazil and at the very least we need to work in the same way. If we can do that we might be able to do it again."

The final word on Uruguay's rewarding run goes to Lugano. "As time goes by we'll realise that we finished in the top four and we'll understand just how good a World Cup this was for us. In terms of organisation and structure there's a massive difference between us and the top three teams, but we showed that you can compete if you do things right. I just hope we can use what we've done here to change our mindset. I want this to be seen as a starting point rather than as an end in itself."