August 1, 2012 2:45 PM EDT
Millennium Stadium — Cardiff (Caerdydd)
Referee: Y. Nishimura
Attendance: 70438
Olympic Preivew: Team GB - Uruguay
Oscar Tabarez's side could also advance with a draw, but the team would have to rely on UAE doing it a favor against Senegal, which currently occupies second place.
By Ryan Benson
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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TEAM GB
Butland Bertrand, Richards, Caulker, Taylor Allen Ramsey, Giggs Cleverley Bellamy, Sturridge |
URUGUAY
![]() Campana Aguirregaray, Rolin, Coates, Albin Rodriguez, Arevalo, Lodeiro Ramirez Cavani, Suarez |
Team GB picked up its first win against the United Arab Emirates last time out with Ryan Giggs, Scott Sinclair and Daniel Sturridge getting the goals - but after defeat to Senegal, Uruguay knows this is also a must win.
Stuart Pearce’s side continues to avoid major injury problems, but center back James Tomkins could make way for Micah Richards to allow Ryan Bertrand to fill in on the right side, while Aaron Ramsey looks set to retain his place alongside Joe Allen and Giggs in the center of the park.
Sturridge was a halftime substitute for Great Britain during the win over UAE, but will likely start, alongside Craig Bellamy, in place of Marvin Sordell after scoring.
Uruguay was completely undone by a smash-and-grab performance from 10-man Senegal last time out, however wholesale changes are not expected with little available in reserve to coach Oscar Tabarez.
Right back Ramon Arias may be replaced by Brazil-born Matias Aguirregaray after a less-than-impressive performance against Senegal, while Diego Rodriguez looks a likely replacement for Maxi Calzada in midfield, where the match against the African side was arguably lost.
Tabarez could be tempted to start Abel Hernandez, who came on as a substitute and looked lively against Senegal, but he is unlikely to drop Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani or Gaston Ramirez.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
The fixture will be played at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, and it will be the first time Giggs has played for a national team in his country of birth since Feb. 2007.
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A win for either side will guarantee progression to the knockout rounds.
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Should Great Britain and Uruguay draw and Senegal win, the African side would finish top with the home side coming in second.
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If GB finishes top of Group A, the team's most likely opponent in the next round is South Korea.
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Neither side has a player with more than one goal with Bellamy, Sinclair, Sturridge and Giggs (pictured right) all on one for GB, while Ramirez and Nicolas Lodeiro have one apiece for the South Americans.
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British nations have played Uruguay a total of eight times, winning just once.
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England beat la Celeste in 2006 with a last-minute Joe Cole strike securing victory.
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Uruguay beat Scotland 7-0 in 1954, while the team has never faced Wales.
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Uruguay’s only ever previous appearances at the Olympics have resulted in a gold medal in the football, winning the tournament in 1924 and 1928, but the country did not appear again until this year.
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Great Britain U-23 2-1 Uruguay U-23
- 19.05 %
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Great Britain U-23 1-2 Uruguay U-23
- 15.77 %
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Great Britain U-23 1-1 Uruguay U-23
- 9.33 %
| Olympic Games (OLY) | Aug 1, 2012 | Great Britain U-23 1 - Uruguay U-23 0 |
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| Aug 4, 2012 | Great Britain U-23 1 - South Korea Under 23 1 | OLY |
| Aug 1, 2012 | Great Britain U-23 1 - Uruguay U-23 0 | OLY |
| Jul 29, 2012 | Great Britain U-23 3 - UAE U-23 1 | OLY |
| Jul 26, 2012 | Great Britain U-23 1 - Senegal U-23 1 | OLY |
| Mar 31, 2009 | Great Britain U-23 0 - France U-21 2 | FR |
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| Aug 1, 2012 | Great Britain U-23 1 - Uruguay U-23 0 | OLY |
| Jul 29, 2012 | Senegal U-23 2 - Uruguay U-23 0 | OLY |
| Jul 26, 2012 | UAE U-23 1 - Uruguay U-23 2 | OLY |
| 23 | Jack Butland | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Neil Taylor | Defender |
| 3 | Ryan Bertrand | Defender |
| 5 | Steven Caulker | Defender |
| 14 | Micah Richards | Defender |
| 23 | Tom Cleverley | Midfielder |
| 22 | Joe Allen | Midfielder |
| 10 | Aaron Ramsey | Midfielder |
| 16 | Scott Sinclair | Midfielder |
| 23 | Daniel Sturridge | Striker |
| 8 | Craig Bellamy | Striker |
| 13 | Jason Steele | Goalkeeper |
| 6 | Craig Dawson | Defender |
| 12 | James Tomkins | Defender |
| 23 | Danny Rose | Midfielder |
| 11 | Ryan Giggs | Midfielder |
| 13 | Jack Cork | Defender |
| 17 | Marvin Sordell | Striker |
| 1 | M. Campaña | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | R. Arias | Defender |
| 4 | Sebastián Coates | Defender |
| 6 | A. Rolín | Defender |
| 13 | Matías Aguirregaray | Defender |
| 18 | G. Ramírez | Midfielder |
| 15 | Diego Martín Rodríguez | Midfielder |
| 17 | Egidio Arevalo Rios | Midfielder |
| 21 | Edinson Cavani | Striker |
| 9 | Luis Suárez | Striker |
| 16 | T. Viudez | Striker |
| - | L. Gelpi | Goalkeeper |
| - | D. Polenta | Defender |
| 5 | E. Albín | Defender |
| 8 | M. Calzada | Midfielder |
| 12 | J. Urretaviscaya | Midfielder |
| 14 | N. Lodeiro | Midfielder |
| 11 | Abel Hernández | Striker |
| Craig Bellamy | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 8 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Luis Suárez | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 9 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Leandro Damião Striker Internacional |
6 | 0 |
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Moussa Konaté Striker Krasnodar |
5 | 0 |
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O. Peralta Striker Santos Laguna |
4 | 0 |
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Giovani dos Santos Striker Mallorca |
3 | 1 |
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Neymar Striker Barcelona |
3 | 1 |

