Forlan fired-up for Uruguay´s Ghana test

Uruguay striker Diego Forlan said Tuesday he was all fired up for his team’s World Cup quarter-final against Ghana.

“We are well prepared – we are having a good World Cup,” said the Atletico Madrid striker ahead of Friday’s test at Soccer City in Johannesburg against the sole African survivors.

“We are following the instructions of (coach Oscar) Tabarez and we are confident we can reach the semi-finals to give joy to our people,” said the former Manchester United striker.

Luis Suarez, with his three goals in the competition to Forlan’s early double against South Africa, is the man who has been in the spotlight in recent days thanks to his stellar winner against South Korea but Forlan says there is no ego contest.

“We are a team and we all work together,” he insists. “The truth is that Luis and I have a great relationship and I am happy he hit those decisive two goals (against the South Koreas in the round of last 16.)

“That’s the reason we have got to where we are.”

Uruguay won the World Cup in 1930 and again in 1950 but have failed to shine anywhere near as brightly since.

Forlan says he hopes that the strong South American presence in the second phase will encourage FIFA to revisit their quota of finals places rather than force the fifth team in the regional qualifiers to playoff against a Central American side.

Uruguay had to beat Costa Rica to reach the finals.

“We have to show how strong South American football is and the strength of the qualifying programme. I hope in doing so we can have five places and not the current four-and-a-half.