RUSTENBURG // Mexico and Uruguay need only a draw today to take both through to the next round of the World Cup. Javier Aguirre, the Mexico coach, has no intention of playing for a draw, but is happy to accept that result if it means advancing to the round of 16. "We're looking for the three points, like we did against South Africa and France," Aguirre said yesterday. "We're not thinking about any other result."
There has been intense speculation in Mexico and Uruguay that both teams have come to an arrangement to play for a draw. But Aguirre denied that. "We're going to try to win and I'm sure that Uruguay will do the same," he said. "Football is the winner when it's an energetic match." Mexico's incentive to win is that a draw would see them finish second in the group, and set up a last 16 rematch with probably Group B winners Argentina, who knocked them out at the same stage in 2006.
Oscar Tabarez, the Uruguay coach, is wary of beginning the match with a draw in mind. "We don't want to go out and just defend against Mexico," Tabarez said. "The formation would only change if there were injuries or a player was suspended. "For tomorrow, I haven't heard any reason to believe" that both teams will play for a draw, he said. Luis Suarez, the Uruguay forward, added: "We're raring to go. We have one single objective here: our mindset since we started has been to win the group." * AP
Uruguay (4 points, +3 goal difference) If Uruguay beat or draw with Mexico, they will top the group. If they lose and there is a winner between France and South Africa, it will come down to goal difference for second place. Mexico (4 points, +2 goals) If Mexico beat Uruguay, they will win Group A. If they draw with Uruguay, they will finish second. If Mexico lose, and there is a winner between France and South Africa, it will come to goal difference. France (1 point, -2 goals) France must beat South Africa and hope there is a winner between Uruguay and Mexico in the other game. Then it will come down to goal difference with the loser of that match. South Africa (1 point, -3 goals) South Africa must beat France and also hope there is a winner between Uruguay and Mexico. This would give them a chance on making the last 16 on goal difference.
