Montevideo: Uruguay will show no mercy to Jordan as they prepare to seal their World Cup qualifying berth here Wednesday after a first-leg thrashing of the Asian minnows which left them virtually assured of their ticket to Brazil. The twotime world champions effectively need only to turn up for Wednesday's game at the Centenario after dispatching the Jordanians with a 5-0 masterclass in last week's away game in Amman.
Although it would take a result of miraculous proportions for Jordan to overturn the first leg scoreline, Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez is leaving nothing to chance and plans to pick a full-strength side. That means Jordan's defence can expect another torrid encounter with the South Americans, who are spearheaded by Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and Paris St Germain's Edinson Cavani.
Tabarez said securing qualification in front of home fans would be a fitting finale to a gruelling qualification campaign which at one stage looked as if it may end in disaster for the 2010 World Cup semi-finalists. “It's very special and you hope to be able to celebrate after qualifying,“ said Tabarez. “But there is one more match to go and we need to be sure we do things right,“ he added.
Tabarez stopped short of naming his side but confirmed it would be based on the team which began the first leg in Amman, saying he was reluctant to pick players who had not had much game time. “This is a serious game, not a training session,“ he said. “We will not give minutes to players just for the sake of it.“
Midfielder Egidio Arevalo Rios admitted that Uruguay would take nothing for granted despite enjoying a five-goal lead from the first leg. Meanwhile Uruguay star Suarez is expected to be rushed back to Merseyside following the game in order to be fit and available for Liverpool's Premier League clash with Everton on Saturday.
Suarez was initially due to return to Britain on Friday, less than 24 hours before the Merseyside derby. However Liverpool's multi-millionaire American owner John Henry is offering to fly Suarez back to Britain on his private jet in order to give the striker an extra day to recover from international duty.?
Nigerians holds Italy to a draw
Italy and Nigeria signed off the year with a breathlessly entertaining 2-2 draw in a friendly international at Fulham's Craven Cottage stadium in London.
The match came just two days after Nigeria secured qualification for the World Cup, but Stephen Keshi's much-changed side showed great heart to hit back through Bright Dike and Shola Ameobi after Giuseppe Rossi had marked his international return by breaking the deadlock.
Italy equalised shortly after half-time through Emanuele Giaccherini, but despite the Azzurri twice hitting the frame of the goal in an occasionally frenetic second period, they were unable to avoid succumbing to a fourth consecutive draw.
Rossi and Mario Balotelli are seen as Italy's first-choice front two in waiting and they provided an illustration of their potential as strike partners by combining for the opening goal in the 12th minute. Balotelli brilliantly turned Azubuike Egwuekwe and fed the onrushing Rossi, who sharply readjusted his feet before lifting a rightfoot shot past goalkeeper Austine Ejide.
In response, Ogenyi Onazi tested Salvatore Sirigu's reflexes with a 25yard snapshot, but Italy continued to press, with Riccardo Montolivo going close and Ejide spreading well to block Balotelli.
MEXICO EYES A REPEAT OF ROUT
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Wellington (New Zealand): Miguel Herrera has promised more scintillating football in Mexico's World Cup intercontinental play-off against New Zealand, as he looks to land the national coaching role on a permanent basis.
El Tri are already virtually assured a spot at next year's tournament in Brazil after trouncing the All Whites 5-1 in Mexico City, but Herrera said he would not shut up shop in the return leg in Wellington on Wednesday . Rather than emphasise defence, Herrera named an unchanged side from the one which delivered a high tempo passing game last week that helped restore the faith of Mexican fans after a dismal qualifying campaign.
“We're here to win,“ he told reporters in the New Zealand capital through an interpreter. “We know that New Zealand need to come and attack us but we're going to play exactly the same as we did in Mexico. “We want to win this game and we want to go to the World Cup.“
Herrera took over the reins last month with Mexico in crisis after winning only two of their 10 CONCACAF qualifiers, scoring a paltry seven goals along the way and shedding three managers. “We want to win this game, the field is in good nick and there will be a lot of spaces on the field."
