Uruguay teach Swiss footballing lesson

Uruguay beat Switzerland 3-1 in a friendly World Cup warm-up match here on Wednesday as Uruguayan strikers Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan ripped apart a slow and inexperienced Swiss side.

Substitute Edison Cavani added a third shortly before the final whistle as the South Americans comprehensively outplayed their opponents, sowing doubt among the Swiss some three months before their opening World Cup match against European champions Spain.

Both coaches experimented extensively with different players but Uruguay swiftly seized the initiative with a sharp start that left the Swiss novices struggling to find their feet.

Before a meagre home crowd, Switzerland gradually worked back into the game and opened the scoring through a penalty by Udinese’s Gokhan Inler in the 29th minute after striker Marco Streller was brought down in the area.

Uruguay’s outright attacking tactics nonetheless pulled off five minutes later when the unmarked Forlan headed in a cross from Maxi Pereira.

The Atletico Madrid striker left the field at half time as both sides started an unsettling series of changes.

But within minutes of the break Suarez volleyed in from a corner to give the South Americans the lead and set the tone for the rest of the match.

Switzerland’s collective skill and wingers occasionally troubled a weakened Uruguayan defence but they were outpaced by the incisive touch of their opponents.

Uruguay succesfully shut out the Swiss centre forwards and should have scored several more, but for wild finishing and second choice Swiss goalkeeper Marco Woelfli.

His counterpart Fernando Muslera parried Switzerland’s clearest chance in the dying minutes of the game.

Switzerland’s coach Ottmar Hitzfeld ultimately found the stern test his players needed against Latin American opposition, before they face Chile and Honduras in Group H at the World Cup, alongside Spain.

Uruguay should face tougher European opponents in the form of 1998 world champions France, as well as hosts South Africa, and Mexico in Group A.