The
match against Ghana in South Africa that brought you to the semi-finals of the
tournament was one of the most intense matches of the 2010 World Cup. How do
you remember this match, the emotional ups and downs and the celebrations after
the penalty shoot out victory?
It
was amazing, because it was one of the most exciting matches that I’ve
experienced, for everything that happened: we started out losing, we turned
things around. To be playing against Ghana with the entire continent supporting
them and to be able to turn it around when they got a penalty off a handball in
the last minute of injury time - can’t be described. Then to win it on penalties
with a Panenka-style goal, it was amazing. It was one of the most incredible
matches I’ve played. We then celebrated but were thinking about how to face the
semi-final. For us, we couldn’t imagine playing in a World Cup semi-final, we
had a great time and we almost made it to the final.
Do
you think the current team is better than the team that played in 2010? Has
something changed after making it to the semi-finals in 2010, and winning the
Copa America in 2011?
It’s
not better or worse, it's different. While there might be a difference in
players it’s not much, because the same group has been playing together for
many years. We might change one player for another but the base is more or less
the same. This team was practically the core of the group that were fourth in
the World Cup in South Africa, that won the Copa America and qualified for the
World Cup in Brazil, and the team with which we hope to play really well
because we have great players that have been playing together for many years.
People
generally say ‘history repeats’. How big are your country’s hopes to repeat the
historic victory at the World cup in 1950?
It’s
the hope of an entire country, the excitement of an entire country. It was such
an enormous feat, the greatest in world football: winning the World Cup in
Brazil. But we’re focused on enjoying the World Cup; making it past the first
round is the biggest objective of Uruguay and the rest of the teams and we
don’t imagine ourselves beyond that. People are very hopeful because of what
was, remembering that maracanazo, and
because we’re very close to Brazil and many people from Uruguay can go to the
World Cup.
In
the group stage you will have to face Italy, England and Costa Rica. Which of
these teams is the biggest threat?
I’d
say Italy - it’s the national team with the longest history and the most titles
and they’re doing things better now. They’re also a serious contender for the
title, so we respect them a lot; we respect all the teams, but looking at the
group I think Italy is the strongest. England has a great team. Costa Rica, who
we’ve already faced, has also grown significantly over the past four years.
Will
Mario Balotelli be especially difficult to look after? He has a reputation to
score game-changing goals.
Yes,
he’s going to be the big point of reference when we play against Italy.
Balotelli is a great player who proves it on the pitch. And one of the biggest
challenges to try and win that match is going to be controlling Balotelli, who
is a leader and a player who can easily win games on his own.
How
do you like the new PUMA national kit and the ACTV technology?
It’s
very good technology, very modern. Obviously, PUMA was thinking about the best
for Uruguay, so hopefully it will give us really good results in the World Cup.
Your teammate
Cristian RodrÃguez has promised to travel to San Cono on horseback if you were
to win the World Cup. What will you do
to mark the occasion?
I
don’t know. I can’t imagine winning a World Cup or what one would do. It would
be an immense joy to celebrate it with my teammates, friends, with my family,
with everyone, but I’m not making any promises.
