Oscar Tabarez is motivated to face Italy this afternoon but warns that he and his Uruguay: “know what we have to do and how to do it.”
The South Americans must defeat the Azzurri today in Natal to beat them to progression from Group D of the World Cup.
For their Coach, they are prepared, but also humble in knowing who they are up against.
Oscar Tabarez is motivated to face Italy this afternoon but warns that he and his Uruguay: “know what we have to do and how to do it.”
The South Americans must defeat the Azzurri today in Natal to beat them to progression from Group D of the World Cup.
For their Coach, they are prepared, but also humble in knowing who they are up against.
“To win against Italy is not the same as to beat any team. It signifies winning against a great. To play against the Azzurri is a gift from heaven,” Tabarez has told reporters pre-match.
“For the game there is no fear. Fear does not exist in football, rather in life, if something happens to your loved ones.
“Balotelli? He is a great player, young, a specialist in the final few metres. We believe that he will play, we have studied how to control him.
“Italy have an advantage, the fact that they only need a draw can be an advantage in the end, but not before. In the sense that it will not affect the behaviour of my boys.
“And then, after the defeat against Costa Rica, we knew well on the eve of the second match that we did not have the best of chances: we had to reach six points.
“We know what we have to do and how to do it. We will give everything.
“The climate? Both we and Italy have faced Costa Rica, who are more used to this climate than us. But for this game, neither team will be advantaged by the temperature.
“And in any case, we knew this all before, the venues and playing schedules. It’s part of the game.
“Formations? Not even talking about it, until an hour before the game. But, all the players are fine, apart from captain Diego Lugano.
“If Prandelli will pull out a few surprises then I will change my formation to combat it more effectively.”
It was put to Tabarez that Uruguay have a better affinity with their country than the Italian players do with Italy.
“You cannot think that the Azzurri have less sense of patriotism, they have won four World Cups and they cannot be accused of this.
“But I do believe in our superior ability to identify with the people, to interpret their feelings and expectations.
“It is true that we have this quality, it is something that you carry inside you as a child, a link to your past. We have it and we will lean on it.”