Who's The Dado

     

Spain line-up: Casillas, Arbeloa, Ramos, Pique, Alba, Xavi (Martinez, 77'), Busquets, Fabregas (Cazorla, 65'), Pedro (Mata, 81'), Soldado, Iniesta

Uruguay line-up: Muslera, Maxi Pereira, Lugano, Godin, Caceres, Rodriguez, Gargano (Lodeiro, 63'), Perez (Forlan, 69'), Ramirez (Gonzalez, 46'), Suarez, Cavani   

Spain begin their quest of becoming the first nation to win three consecutive tournaments with a victory over Uruguay. The World and European Champions were in control pretty much throughout and Uruguay were perhaps fortunate that Spain didn’t try to pepper Fernando Muslera’s goal. A Diego Lugano own goal and a finish from Roberto Soldado put Spain 2-0 ahead in the first half before Luis Suarez scored a sublime free-kick late on to make the closing moments more interesting.

Spain dominated from the outset and the first warning sign came after just five minutes when Jordi Alba flashed a great cross across goal and Uruguay were lucky that no-one could get on the end of it. By ten minutes, Spain had 92% possession and they sent a second warning a minute later as Andres Iniesta let a pass run for Cesc Fabregas to unleash a powerful which hit the inside of the post before going out.

Muslera’s hands were stung just after the quarter of an hour mark when a rapid interchange led to Iniesta firing straight at the keeper who had to parry the ball upwards before catching it at the second attempt. The Uruguay lock was finally picked on 20-minutes when a corner came out to Pedro, he fired an effort that looked to be going wide of the right hand post but a wicked deflection off Lugano sent the ball left, completely bamboozling Muslera, and in to the net.

Uruguay finally had their first attack shortly afterwards with a free-kick that ended up being headed wide, it looked like it was off a Uruguay head but the referee did point for a corner which came to nothing. As the half wore on, poor challenges began to fly in which caused tempers to fray a little bit. This did result in a well worked Uruguay free-kick finding Edison Cavani four yards out but his header was straight at Iker Casillas.

The South Americans were made to rue that miss as Spain would be 2-0 ahead on 32-minutes; Fabregas found Soldado with a superb reverse pass to split the defence. Soldado took a touch to set himself before firing past Muslera from just inside the box, truly vindicating Vincente Del Bosque’s decision to pick him over Fernando Torres. Spain would also come close to adding third just before half-time when a corner saw Gerard Pique smashed a point blank shot straight at Muslera.

Uruguay did look to change things at half-time in the early periods of the second half, but they were really struggling to find anything to harm the Spanish defence. For most of the half, Spain controlled the tempo with dominance in possession and would decide to attack whenever they felt it was necessary. The only real drama saw Sergio Ramos escape without a card after a seemingly two footed tackle on substitute Nicolas Lodeiro which could have easily been a red in a different game.

There were a few flashes from Spain, nothing to trouble Muslera, but the game was looking like it was going to peter out towards the end. Soldado did test Muslera with a straight shot but then Uruguay managed to pull one back with two minutes remaining; Ramos was causing trouble again, this time fouling Suarez. The want away Liverpool striker got up and stood over the free-kick before curling a fantastic effort in to the top corner and setting up a grandstand finish.

But Spain tried to calm any nerves when Soldado was perceived to be through. But the striker went down under a Gonzalez challenge on the edge of the box, to Spain’s fury nothing was given and Gonzalez remained on the pitch. Uruguay instantly went up the other end a teasing Suarez cross had to be punched away before it fell to Cavani. Spain managed to hold on and should book their place in the semi-finals with victory over minnows Tahiti in the next match.