Uruguay ready to spoil French party

AFP / Odd ANDERSEN Uruguay are marshalled by defensive stalwart Diego Godin NIZHNY NOVGOROD – Street-wise and tough yet with a razor-sharp edge, Uruguay had moved serenely into the World Cup quarterfinals, side-stepping the chaos that swamped former winners Argentina, Germany and Spain.

Uruguay had shown in Russia that it is extremely difficult to beat yet sometimes underwhelming factors you could have predicted from it before the World Cup.

A low-key start and an 89th-minute winner that gave it a forgettable 1-0 win over an Egypt side missing Mohamed Salah has now given way to real hope it can win their third World Cup.

With a defense built around the central pairing of Jose Gimenez and the vastly experienced 32-year-old Diego Godin — they also play together at Atletico Madrid — Uruguay has won all four games in Russia, conceding a solitary goal.

It is also the only side to beat Russia, 3-0, in the group stage in what appeared to be a reality check for the host nation before it went on to stun Spain in the Last 16.

Uruguay extinguished Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on a thrilling night in Sochi to reach the quarterfinals, with Edinson Cavani scoring two brilliant goals.

Next up the grizzly, experienced World Cup campaigners take on a young France — including the exciting Kylian Mbappe and Atletico’s Antoine Griezmann — in Nizhny Novgorod on Friday, bidding for a place in the semifinals.

It is a tough assignment for France and any hope that its stars will enjoy the same space they found in their 4-3 win against a disorganized Argentina have already been extinguished.

“France’s strongest points are the attackers, Griezmann and Mbappe,” Uruguay’s veteran coach Oscar Tabarez said in his understated yet determined way after the Portugal victory.

“If you let France have space it will be very difficult.”

“El Maestro” Tabarez has been in charge of Uruguay for 12 years and has not only forged a strong team who rarely fail to deliver on the big stage, but also a side with an immense work ethic and huge experience.