Uruguay calls Shah Alam stadium 'home' for final
Uruguay calls Shah Alam stadium 'home' for final
SHAH ALAM, Malaysia (AFP): Uruguay has "home" advantage here today as it bids to win its first world youth football title against defending champion Argentina.
Uruguay, the only unbeaten team in the under-20 tournament, goes into the all-South American final having played all its six matches so far at the same Shah Alam stadium.
Argentina, on the other hand, will be making its first appearance here after playing its league games at Kangar, the second round at Johor Baru and the quarter and semifinals at Kuching.
"We've got used to this place," Uruguayan coach Victor Pua said as his wards trained at the 80,000-seat stadium. "It's like a second home to us.
"Hopefully, the people who have watched us here over the last two weeks will come again and back us."
But the Argentineans will be pleased to get away from Kuching, where spectators backed Brazil against them in the quarterfinals and then rooted for Ireland in the semis.
"It doesn't matter where we play," said Argentina's coach Jose Pekerman. "To be champion, you have to play at any venue and against any opponents. We've had two days to get used to this new place."
Pekerman, who predicted his team would retain the title after the 2-0 quarter-final win over Brazil, is now a mellow man -- with ample reason.
Uruguay has looked solid with five wins in six matches, while Argentina has been branded the "chameleon champions" by one newspaper for its inconsistent form.
It was beaten 4-3 by Australia in the league, was brilliant against England and Brazil, but struggled to down spirited Ireland 1-0 in the semifinals.
"We could have played better against Ireland," Pekerman admitted. "I hope to rectify the problem before the final. Hopefully the shock will jolt the boys."
He brushed aside questions on whether the players will get huge financial rewards if they retain the title they won at Qatar two years ago.
"There will be some reward, but nothing special. We will be playing for pride and that is more important than anything else," he said.
Revenge is also an incentive. Argentina was beaten 1-0 by Uruguay in its first match of the South American qualifiers earlier this year and held to a 1-1 draw in the second.
Uruguay's Pua was understandably upbeat on his team's chances in its first ever world youth final.
"We have nothing to fear (against) Argentina," he said. "I have the utmost respect for them because they are a very strong side, but we know each other very well. Psychologically, there is nothing to scare us."
The ultimate winner will be South America's football future. This will be the third successive world youth title for a country from the region -- Brazil won in 1993 and Argentina in 1995.
South America has won five of the 10 titles contested since the tournament was launched in 1977. European countries won four times while erstwhile Soviet Union took the inaugural title.
Brazil, in 1983 and 1985, and Portugal in 1989 and 1991, are the only teams to have won two tournaments in a row.
Probable starting lineups
Uruguay: Gustavo Munua, Martin Fernandez, Pablo Garcia, Pellegrin Garcia, Christian Callejas, Walter Coelho, Marcelo Zalayeta, Nicolas Olivera, Alvaro Perea, Daniel Bentancor, Alejandro Botta.
Argentina: Leonardo Franco, Juan Serrizuela, Esteban Cambiasso, Diego Markic, Lionel Scaloni, Diego Quintana, Roman Riquelme, Bernardo Romeo, Pablo Aimer, Fabian Cubero, Diego Placente.