There is much to be said for building quiet momentum.
In their first game against France, Uruguay were absolute garbage. I don't recall them stringing together more than 3 passes all game. Their midfield was AWOL, their attack non existent, bar Diego Forlan. But, they kept their discipline. Thanks to some atrocious football by the French, they remained intact.
Against South Africa they were much better, cohesive and generally coming together. They won convincingly.
In their final group game, they looked as good as they ever will. They were fluid, capable and at times, when Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez and Forlan interlinked, potentially rampant.
Against South Korea, having a mean tournament themselves, the Uruguayan team looked even better with classy finishing and adventurous tactics allayed to their normally disciplined positional sense and shape. Forlan was inspirational, Cavani brilliant and Suarez joined the race for the golden boot with two strikes. The second, sheer class.
Having reached the Quarterfinals against Ghana, they now look good to go even further. Who knows, perhaps retribution for the 2007 Copa America semi-final awaits against Brazil ?
South Korea have played skilfully, but have scored far too many goals, for my liking, off defensive meltdowns and unmarked far posts. I have nothing against good goals scored with build up and skill, but eventually luck catches up with you.
So it proved.
In a repeat of their opening goal against Greece, They conceded the first Suarez goal when he sneaked in unmarked at the far post to slide home a cross that evaded everyone.
Just deserts.
Lee Chung Yong and Park Ji Sung have been the class of the team, showing both invention and alacrity to go with their usual industry and discipline. After years of making up the numbers as one of Asia's guaranteed representatives, South Korea has shown that it is deserving of a place at Europe's top table, at least for the near future.
2002 may have been a fluke helped on by dodgy refereeing. 2010 has been the real deal.
Uruguay 3 - 1 South Korea:
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