Pretoria - Bafana Bafana head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira will roll the dice and take risks when the national team face the powerful Uruguay in the make or break 2010 World Cup second Group A showdown at Loftus on Wednesday night.
Kick-off is at 20:30.
Bafana ranked a lowly 83rd in the world have been buoyed by their stunning 1-1 draw against 17th world ranked Mexico in the opening group clash last Friday.
Parreira looked the picture of calmness on the eve of what promises to be the water shed match for the new-look Bafana against the 16th best team in world soccer.
The Brazilian born coach said: “We have to change our approach. Firstly we have to win one of the remaining two group games to qualify for the Round of 16. Three draws are no good. So that means taking risks and I am prepared to that against Uruguay. I do not want to leave it until the final match against France (in Bloemfontein on June 22).”
However, Parreria was not going to tell the media briefing full of international journalists what his new game plan would be.
Parreira said: “ Uruguay will be different. Mexico play like no other tem in the World Cup. They attack with three strikers and two attacking wingbacks. They are solid in defence playing with three central defenders. But they have two dangerous strikers (Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez) so we will have a new approach to this game.”
Parreria said the group is wide open after Uruguay and France drew 0-0 in their opener at Cape Town’s Greenpoint Stadium last Friday night.
Parreira has worked his magic in getting the squad into shape for the global showpiece after picking up the pieces in November where he inherited a dispirited squad after a disastrous 17-month reign by fellow Brazilian Joel Santana.
Parreira took the players to three “boot camps” and got the players physically and mentally fit so well that the European based stars such as Everton’s Steven Pienaar and Kagisho Dikgacoi have struggled to keep up with the PSL based players who were with Parreria in the Durban, Brazil and Germany camps.
But Parreira will have one more quality to pass onto his players – his calmness under pressure.
Bafana were a bundle of nerves in the opening half against Mexico but after a halftime pep talk the players relaxed and the post denied Bafana an historic win in the 90th minute when striker Katlego Mphela hit the Mexican woodwork.
Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena said the players’ nerves had settled: “Mexico were probably the most difficult side I have faced. They were a tough team. But they are history and we gained confidence from that second half display. We are aware Uruguay are very experienced and have Forlan in attack. We will be ready and on our toes.”
Parreira said he had encountered Forlan, the star Atletico Madrid striker many times when he coached Brazil before the 2006 World Cup finals. “ Forlan scored many goals against Brazil. Forlan is on top of his game. He is in the best shape of his life and comes into the World Cup as the leading goals scorer with his club and with a Europa Cup winners medal. We have to contain him for 90 minutes to win.” he added.
Parreira will be looking to Pienaar to rise top the occasion: “Pienaar has played 26 matches for Everton in the toughest league in the world-the English Premiership in 2010. That has taken it out of him. I have faith in Pienaar. I know he must be tired but I am confident he will shine through for us on Wednesday.”
Parreira said that his other two attacking midfielders Teko Modise and Siphiwe Tshabalala were also key players against Uruguay.
Said Parreria: Tshabalala is world class. He scored that wonder goal against Mexico. The reason is he is now in the best shape of his career.
He is the player who has run the most so far in the World Cup. He never missed one minute of any training session with me. He has worked hard and now will reap his rewards.”
Super excited! (not happy about the 3 Degrees though)...