For the first time since 1990 Uruguay have reached the knockout stages of the World Cup and  then they got there via a 1-0 win over South Korea. That team was one of many Uruguayan sides that delivered far less than they promised, mostly because they seemed terrified to take any risks. Twenty years ago, they came across Italy in the round of 16 and barely managed a shot in a 2-0 defeat in Rome. This time, under Oscar Tabarez a student of Che Guevara, they are a far more sophisticated unit. The fact that they have yet to concede a goal in this tournament is less surprising than the way they have performed since an opening goalless draw with France in Cape Town. Tabarez’s decision to push Diego Forlan into the role of a deep-lying striker paid immediate dividends in a crushing victory over South Africa. But what was most impressive was they way they kept a fine Mexico attack at bay to the extent that Fernando Muslera barely had a shot to save in Rustenburg.

Perhaps the biggest problem facing the South Korea coach, Huh Jung-moo, is complacency. When the final whistle blew in Durban, the Korean players, led by Park Ji-sung queued up to say that they had achieved their pre-tournament aim of making the knockout stages for the first time outside their own country. Since they had conceded six goals in their last two games, it was hardly surprising that Huh moved quickly to dampen down the celebratory spirit in the South Korean dressing room, saying that the target was now to reach the semi-final. “I believe the group stage was the most difficult test we would have to face in South Africa and, from now on, it is a 50:50 chance of going through.” Not quite but you know why he had to say it.

 Each match Uruguay has played has been better than  their last while South Korea have done the opposite. The South Americans have won all three of the previous meetings between the sides and have not conceded a goal while doing so. If Huh wanted some better omens, he might point out that Uruguay’s poorest performance came at sea level in Cape Town but his defence needs a serious overhaul, especially with the 31-year-old Forlan becoming one of the players of the tournament and Luis Suarez’s winner against Mexico ensuring that his record of scoring virtually a goal a game was maintained: Verdict: Uruguay to win.