Parreira: hosts more confident after opening game

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP):

South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira warned his team to beware the threat of Uruguay striker Diego Forlan as his team chases a World Cup victory which could put the hosts within sight of the last 16.

"Forlan is a player we can't leave free," he said yesterday ahead of the game against the two-time World Cup winners at Loftus Versfeld. "Our eyes should be on him all the time, for 90 minutes."

South Africa captain Aaron Mokoena also recognises the threat of Forlan, who has twice been top scorer in both the Spanish league and Europe.

"They are a very experienced side, they defend very well, have got fantastic strikers as we know," Mokoena said. "Forlan has done well in the Spanish league. We have done some homework on them, analyse their strong points."

Four teams level

With all four teams level on one point each, Group A is finely balanced. But Parreira sets out to beat Uruguay at Loftus Versfeld today rather than wait for a final group game against France in Bloemfontein June 22.

"We have got to win at least one of the next two remaining games, it's very clear for everybody," Parreira said yesterday. "We have to win one of the two games otherwise it's going to be difficult to qualify. To finish with three points means we are out of the competition so it doesn't make sense to draw. I am prepared to take risks."

Parreira, whose team drew 1-1 with Mexico at Soccer City in the opening match of the competition on Friday, said he was glad the tension of the opening game has now gone as his players now feel more relaxed going into their second match.

"After we have played the first game we felt more comfortable even against a very good team like Uruguay. Now it's going to be an open game for us and for (Uruguay)."

Nicolas Lodeiro is missing for Uruguay after being sent off in the draw with France but he was not expected to start anyway.

Coach Oscar Tabarez is adjusting his line-up to play with three forwards, with Forlan likely to drop deeper and play behind Suarez and Edison Cavani.

"The reason is to try and have an even distribution of players on the field to match the line-up of our opponents," Tabarez said. "They play with two lines of four with two forwards and I didn't want too many men in one line.

"These three forwards have been very decisive players with their own clubs and this is another reason I have decided to put them in the starting line-up."