Pepe and Cristiano face Godín, Suárez, Cavani and company in the repetition of the round of 16 duel of the 2018 World Cup in Russia
At the Lusail stadium, the largest in Qatar and the usual venue for the most attractive matches, Portugal will face Uruguay
Pepe’s 39 years make him the second oldest footballer in the World Cup. Born on February 6, 1983, he is only preceded by the Mexican goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera, who has already blown out 40 candles (September 18, 1982). Cristiano Ronaldo plays with Pepe, an illustrious name in football with 37 years in tow and currently without a team after having terminated his contract with Manchester United. Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio is 34 years old.
At the Lusail stadium, the largest in Qatar and the usual venue for the most attractive matches, Portugal will face Uruguay, which presents the following line-up: Fernando Mosquera, 36 years old, and four months younger than Diego Godín (36) . Sebastián Sosas and Martín Cáceres are the same age. Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani have 35.
celestial relay
A match for veterans will be this Portugal-Uruguay that can be decisive in the classification of group H that they share with Ghana and South Korea. Less decisive, however, than the one they played four years ago in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, when they met in the round of 16. Uruguay won (2-1) with two goals from Valencian player Cavani, who was obviously chosen as the man of the match. The goal for Portugal was the work of Pepe.
“I understand that it will be a different story and game,” Diego Alonso, the Uruguayan coach, was quick to say. The differences begin with him, as a substitute for the legendary Óscar Tabárez on the sky-blue bench. Alonso, who never had a place in the national team (barely 9 games and the 1999 Copa América as the major tournament in which he participated) tries to rejuvenate the squad. At least, change some dynamics such as the suspicion that there are untouchable footballers.
“There are no untouchables. In these 11 months I have given proof that I always put those who are in better conditions”
“I always put those I see in better conditions, always,” he assured, a phrase that he repeated three times to underline his independence as a coach and that seems to be questioned in some sectors close to the selection. “There are no untouchables. In these 11 months I have given proof that I always put those who are in better conditions,” he stressed. Alonso avoided giving the alienation, like everyone, pending, he said, the last training.
Valverde, the green shoot
The problem, perhaps, is that Uruguayan football does not offer a replacement of guarantees and of the same level as that of its most illustrious Godín, Suárez and Cavani although Federico Valverde (24 years old) it is the green shoot that heralds a sustainable future. The Madridista ‘Little Bird’, a nickname given to him by Tabárez for his light figure when he was younger, he wants to be nicknamed ‘El Halcón’.
Another green shoot is Ronald Araujo (23). According to the coach’s words, he will not play against Portugal. Without playing minutes since he was injured in the Iran-Uruguay friendly, he also does not have a medical clearance that Barça should give him or, in any case, the surgeon who operated on him, the Finn Lasse Lempainen.
“We don’t really know what to expect from Uruguay. I don’t know if they will attack or give us the initiative, but they need the points to reach the round of 16”
The memory of Russia
Unlike Alonso, Fernando Santos does not see many differences between the Uruguay of the past and the current one. Many names are repeated and the style is similar. “He played with a 4-4-2 and made us defend a lot in Russia”; remembered the Portuguese coach. Suárez and Cavani follow up, speeding up their career.
In that meeting, the two teams faced each other in identical circumstances. a bareback tie, even though Portugal would have finished first in their group, where they relegated Spain to second place. Portugal beat Ghana in the first match and Uruguay did not go beyond a draw against South Korea.“We do not underestimate that point,” indicated Alonso, revaluing it before the initial setbacks of Argentina and Germany. “We don’t really know what to expect from Uruguay,” confessed Bernardo Silva, “I don’t know if they will attack and press or give us the initiative, but they need points to reach the round of 16,” added the Manchester City footballer. He is only 28 years old.