Ghana's dreams of becoming the first African side to reach a World Cup semifinal will depend on its ability to keep at bay the formidable attacking duo which has propelled Uruguay into the quarters. The Ghanaians carry the hopes of a continent hosting its first World Cup, but any burden of expectation is far out weighed by the need to keep a close check on the ability of Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez when they meet in their quarterfinal tie at Soccer City in Johannesburg Friday. The pair have scored five goals between them as Uruguay has enjoyed its most successful World Cup campaign in 40 years, topping its group and then beating South Korea in the second round. Combined with a resolute defense that has conceded a solitary goal in four matches at the Finals, Uruguay present a formidable challenge to hopes Ghana will rescue a disastrous tournament for African teams. As the only one of six representatives from the continent to progress past the first phase, Ghana has become the team on which the host nation, and wider continent, is pinning its hopes on to recreate the hype and excitement that preceded the start of the tournament. “It was very important for us to win because we know that Africans are proud of us and we are playing on African soil,” said captain John Mensah, acknowledging the expectation in the build-up to the quarterfinal. But coach Milovan Rajevac, perhaps fearful his players will be affected by the pressure, has sought at the same time to temper talk of carrying Africa's ambitions. He deflected questions on the issue during the week, saying tersely: “The players concentrate on what happens on the pitch. There are no other pressures.” Rajevac will make two changes with Dede Ayew and Jonathan Mensah suspended. Isacc Vorsah makes a timely return from injury to centre back in place of Mensah, and will be key to Ghana's plans to stifle the double threat posed by Forlan and Suarez. Ayew's place is likely to be taken by Sulley Muntari, only used as a substitute so far but still with the potential to prove a decisive influence for Ghana. Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez named his team Wednesday, with Mauricio Victorino in for the injured Diego Godin in defense and Alvaro Fernandez chosen ahead of Alvaro Pereira in midfield. Before Brazil and Argentina underlined their power in soccer Uruguay was the dominant South American team winning two World Cups in 1930 and 1950, two Olympic Games gold medals and eight of their 14 Copa America titles. Its fortunes have been in decline since its 2-1 upset of Brazil in the 1950 final before 174,000 fans at the Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro. It reached the semifinals in 1954 and 1970, and now Tabarez has a good unit to cherish hope. Forlan hopes the strong South American presence in the quarterfinals will encourage FIFA to revise their quota of finals places rather than force the fifth team in the regional qualifiers to play off against a Central American side. Uruguay had to overcome Costa Rica to reach the Finals. “We have to show how strong South American football is and the strength of the qualifying program. I hope in doing so we can have five places and not the current four-and-a-half for the next World Cup in Brazil,” Forlan said. “Before we began this World Cup, we saw this great harmony among the players and I said to them, ‘The people back home have aspirations, they have dreams and we have to deliver them',” Tabarez said. “Our objective is to go as far as we can in this tournament.”
