World Cup: Uruguay v Denmark Preview

Uruguay were the last team to qualify for the finals with a play-off win over Australia back in November and they will have a tight struggle against the Danes.

Neither side is expected to deliver many tournament wins but the South Americans may have what it takes to get past the Danish team who have little to offer except hard work and diligence.

These factors often count for much in tournament play but the Danes are likely to fare better against France and Senegal than they will against a defensive Uruguay who will try and play for a draw.

The Danes will have to get past a defence led by Paolo Montero of Juventus and then beat his club mate Fabian Carini who is rated as the best goalkeeper in South America on current form.

Bolted onto coach Victor Pua's conservative tactics and combative rear guard are the talents of Alvaro Recoba of Inter.

His free kicks could test goalkeeper Tomas Sorensen who looked rather careworn at the end of a difficult season for Sunderland. Recoba's delivery with his left foot is brilliant but a thin midfield may be Uruguay's undoing.

The South Americans rely on Recoba to work in midfield and his withdrawn role may see him marked out of the game by the physical danes.

Coach Pua named eight strikers in his Uruguay squad and it is midfielders who have been culled to make way for them. Recoba may have to drop deep to find the ball and the central midfield area will see the Danes patrol constantly for possession with Tomas Gravesen particularly spiky.

To win the game the Danes will need a wide payer like Jesper Gronkjaer to hit his best form but it is hard to see him having tricks and touches that Montero hasn't seen before.

The Danes do have slightly more wide options in their squad if the game really does meander into stalemate early on with both sides not wanting to lose.

However, the defeat by group favourites France makes this section much more open and the prospect of chasing down Senegal rather than the World Cup holders for a place in the second phase may tempt both coaches to try for a win.

Uruguay have three world class players in Carini, Montero and Recoba and this should prove too much for the workers of Denmark's squad.