Confederations Cup 2013: 5 players to watch out for when Uruguay face Italy

Uruguay and Italy failed to make the finals of the Confederations Cup but they ran it pretty close. They were facing sides that were perhaps superior on paper, but they did more than good to put up a fight. They will be heading into the 3rd place match without much ambition as it is not a particularly lucrative award, but Cesare Prandelli and Oscar Tabarez will get another chance to assess the balance of their sides.

Uruguay did not have a particularly good tournament till their semi-finals clash against Brazil where they broke down Brazil’s flair with tactical football. They slowed down the tempo of the game and tried to catch them on the flanks. If not for Diego Forlan’s penalty miss, they could have been preparing for a rematch against world champions Spain. The tournament brought some personal milestones for Forlan but he would be regretting that all-important tame kick of the ball. Oscar Tabarez might give striker Hernandez a go in this game which should be a good contest if both teams are up for it.

Italy on the other hand will be demoralized and drained after their unfortunate loss to Spain in the semi-finals. They were perhaps the better team in the first 90 minutes of play but all that is mere consolation now. They could not hold their nerve when it mattered the most and football can be a cruel game at times. There were a number of positives for them however. They were not given a lot of chance ahead of that match, given their prior performances in the tournament and the critical injuries they suffered ahead of the clash, but they took it to the last kick of the ball. They can hold their head high and will be favorites to take that third place if it’s contested in a competitive spirit.

Here is a list of five players to watch out for in the game:

5. Diego Forlan

The veteran has had a bitter-sweet tournament. He celebrated his 100th appearance with a stunning goal against Nigeria, silencing his critics who thought his career for the national side was over. He looked the player who could turn around Uruguay’s lacklustre performance against Spain and he did. However, the game proved to be a great leveler as he missed a penalty during the course of the game that could have made a huge difference. It remains to be seen what becomes of his future with Uruguay and if he plays a part in the next World Cup. This game will be an opportunity to mend a part of his reputation.