July 2010
Venue: Green Point Stadium
Kick-off: 19:30
Tabarez blasts “shameful” Suarez questions
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez insisted his side will feel no embarrassment when they line up against Holland in the World Cup semi-final at the Green Point stadium.
Tabarez maintains that Luis Suarez did not cheat when he handled the ball on the line to deprive Ghana a quarter-final winner in the last seconds of extra time, the Ajax striker then celebrating on the touchline when Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting penalty.
Suarez, who likened the handball to Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in 1986, is suspended from the semi-final.
Tabarez was clearly angry at the questioning of Suarez and said: “I’m embarrassed by what has been asked. That is shameful.
“It was an instinctive act. Suarez couldn’t foresee what happened afterwards, that Ghana would miss the penalty. Don’t talk to me about a lack of modesty.
“We are very proud and we’re upset with this topic. We’re proud of our performances and what we’ve contributed to the development of football at this World Cup.
“Uruguay went through almost three matches without a yellow card at all, so please don’t tell me we’re cheats.”
It was a feisty final press conference as Tabarez refused to give an update on the injured Diego Lugano or to name his starting XI as he had promised, claiming the Uruguayan press had been spying on his training sessions.
“Some journalists are playing as war correspondents,” Tabarez said.
Tabarez was prepared to talk about a Holland side which has reached the semi-final after winning all eight of their qualifying matches plus five games