2010 FIFA World Cup: Report Card: Uruguay

Diego Forlan= A+

The figure of the World Cup. Although he probably will lose out on the Golden Ball to a player who wins the Final, no one has been more inspirational for his country than Diego Forlan.

After a slow start against France, Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez moved his talisman into a playmaking role and the former Indpendiente, Manchester United, and Villareal star thrived.

In his new position, Forlan became his country’s chief goal scorer and assister, and was in top form scoring twice as Uruguay dispatched hosts South Africa 3-0 in Pretoria and took control of the group.

As the tournament went on, Diego got better scoring a brilliant free kick in the quarterfinal against Ghana, before keeping his cool from the penalty spot during the shoot-out.

In the semifinal, Forlan scored yet another long range goal to equalize, and although his side fell, there is no question that Uruguay was not inferior to the Dutch team.

Forlan nearly saved his best for last. After giving Uruguay the lead with a great volley early in the second half against Germany, he rattled the cross bar with a last gasp free kick which would have been the most dramatic goal of the tournament.

Even without a medal, there is no question in my mind: The best player I have seen in this World Cup is Diego Forlan.

Diego Lugano= A

The captain was the defensive lynchpin for Uruguay that kept a clean sheet in each match during the Group Stage.

A fiery leader, the former Nacional and Sao Poulo man is brilliant in the air and was key in helping his team fight off a valiant South Korean effort during the Round of 16, and looked to be able to boss the game against Ghana as well, before an unfortunate injury forced him off the pitch.

Although Uruguay advanced without him, the semifinal was one stretch too far for the Celeste without their captain.

Would Ghana have been able to find a free header that led to Luis Suarez’s now infamous handball? (Albeit the free kick that led to the incident was nonexistent) No.

Would Arjen Robben, never known for his head, found himself free in the box to nod home Holland’s third with Lugano in the line-up? Doubtful.

Lugano was valiant, although clearly not at his best during the Third Place Match against Germany, but it was academic at that point.

The Fenerbache icon will sadly have to think what would have happened had he played the full match against Ghana and Holland. Perhaps we’d be talking about Uruguay in the Final.

Luis Suarez= B+

Suarez and South Africa 2010 will forever be linked by what has been labeled as “cheating” by many fans, particularly those in Africa. Unfortunately, the blame is not on Suarez. He made a reaction to a ball flying right by him and as countless professionals have stated, they would have done the same in the same position.

Some fans are so put off by Ghana’s exit, that they cannot blame Asamoah Gyan, the true villain, and choose to crucify Suarez.

Cheating is what Maradona did in 1986, or what Torsten Frings did against 2002. That is deceiving the referee is cheating. Suarez did not deceive the referee, and anyone who feels he was proud of his act should watch the tear-stricken Ajax man leaving the field in disgrace after the penalty and red card had rightfully been awarded.

Suarez was completely justified to celebrate at Gyan’s miss. The rules are the rules. Football is not rugby, there are no “penalty goals” as there are penalty-tries.

The rage thrust at Suarez by many fans in South Africa sadly over shadowed what has been a great World Cup, and one that will ultimately earn him a big pay-day in the coming weeks.

He won a penalty and provided an assist during his team’s route of South Africa, before setting up the run to the semifinals by downing Mexico with a first half header.

Had Uruguay not won, they would have faced a much tougher road through the knock out rounds, and instead of facing Argentina, La Celeste took on South Korea, where a Suarez brace, including a spectacular late winner, booked his side a place in the last eight for the first time in 40 years.

Egidio Arevalo= B

The Penarol man was not supposed to be in South Africa, much less in the starting eleven, but he ended up as the only outfield player to have played every minute during his side’s run to Fourth Place.

After impressing during the domestic season in Uruguay, Oscar Tabarez gave Arevalo a chance, and he ended up beating out Napoli’s Walter Gargano for a spot in the first team.

A tireless runner who harassed opposing attackers to death, but stayed surprisingly clean, unlike his partner in crime Diego Perez.

A few sloppy give aways in midfield, such as the one that led to Sulley Muntari’s goal for Ghana, takes his mark down a bit

Arevalo was full of energy and pushed his team forward when he could, providing a wonderful assist for Diego Forlan’s volley against Germany.

Fernando Muslera= C+

Muslera completed a clean sheet in each match of the group stage, making a few key saves, especaily from Gourcuff against France, but was not as tested as much as he would be later in the tournament.

In the Round of 16 against South Korea, Muslera had some keys saves, but also some dodgy moments, but it was in the Soccer City Quarter Final against Ghana where Muslera became a Charrua legend by saving two penalties and booking his side a spot in the semifinal against versus Holland.

Considered a bit unlucky to be beaten three times by the Dutch, Muslera suffered a nightmare against Germany in the Third Place game.

With a historic chance to finish third or higher for the first time since winning the tournament at Brazil in 1950, Muslera fumbled Bastian Schweinsteiger’s first half shot into the path of Thomas Muller, before he terribly misjudged a cross to gift Marcell Jansen his first international goal.

The Lazio shot-stopper had problems on high balls all night, and will also feel he could have done better with Sami Khedira;s winner.

There is no denying that Muslera is a bright young goalkeeper, but he will sadly have to think about an absolutely awful game with a Bronze Medal at stake.

Edison Cavani= C+

Cavani is a brilliant young footballer, and although he had some decent flashes, South Africa 2010 did not see the best of the Palermo hitman.

After missing out in the first match, Cavani became a fixture in the side for the rest of the tournament. Although he gave his team plenty of pace and guile, he was guilty of being to selfish at times, and his finishing was also far from its best, as he managed just one goal in six matches.

Cavani certainly worked for the team and showed plenty of promise, but the final product was lacking far too often to be considered one of the stars of the World Cup.

At just 23, there is no doubt that Cavani and Luis Suarez can form a team for the future that will also feature the likes of youngsters Nicolas Lodeiro, Fernando Muslera, and Palermo striker Abel Hernandez, who unluckily missed out on South Africa.