Tabarez wastes no time in naming team to face Ghana

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has once more decided to announce his team early in anticipation of the Celeste clash against Ghana on Friday.

There will be two changes for the Uruguayans from the team which beat South Korea 2-1 on Saturday.

‘The Maestro’ announced the team in his press conference at the team’s Kimberley base on Wednesday.

The early selection follows a pattern established since the early days of this tournament; carried out, in Tabarez’s own words, to stop tiresome press speculation over whom would appear for the Celeste.

In defence Mauricio Victorino will stand in for centre-back Diego Godin.

In fact the highly impressive Godin is a doubt for the rest of the tournament after suffering a pulled muscle in the second round.

The other change, by contrast, is an unforced switch; Universidad de Chile midfielder Alvaro Fernandez will come in for Porto’s Alvaro Pereira after Pereira failed to impress in the previous match.

Uruguay team in full:

Muslera, Maxi Pereira, Lugano, Victorino, Fucile; Alvaro Fernández, Diego Pérez, Arévalo Ríos; Diego Forlán; Cavani and Luis Suárez.