'There's no doubt that Uruguay have excellent players. They have an excellent team. They were world champions twice'
European Champions Portugal are preparing for their last 16 encounter with Uruguay as if it were a final, but the Portuguese are not worried about their opponents' robust style and strength in the air, full-back Cedric Soares said on Wednesday.
Portugal squeezed into the knock-out stage with a 1-1 draw against Iran and will face one of the form sides in the tournament.
Uruguay are one of only two sides to win all three of their group games so far, and they have added some midfield guile to the physical style for which they are known and feared.
"There's no doubt that Uruguay have excellent players. They have an excellent team. They were world champions twice," Soares told reporters.
"It's an excellent team but we also have our weapons. We are going to have time prepare for this encounter in the best way possible. Needless to say, we have our qualities and we really believe in them."
"We're European champions and we've already shown many times what quality we have, and we're going to continue doing that," he added.
"All our opponents have big players and some smaller players. In football it's irrelevant. We have to attack the ball, and treat every ball as dangerous, always be aware. That's how we're going to face every instance of the game against Uruguay."
Uruguay have one of the best recent records of all 32 World Cup sides, having won all six of their games this year, conceding precisely zero goals.
But Soares underlined that Portugal were taking a difficult tournament one game at a time and said from now on every match is decisive.
"This has proved to be difficult for all the teams involved, it's a very competitive World Cup. Our main goal of course was to qualify and we've done that. Now we are preparing for the last 16. That's very tough, because every game from now on is a final. We're going to face them that way."
While, Uruguay preparing to face Portugal not just Ronaldo
Uruguay are wary of facing Portugal’s free scoring Cristiano Ronaldo in Saturday’s World Cup last 16 clash but are preparing for a showdown with the European champions not one player and believe the outcome will come down to details.
Ronaldo pulled his team through the group stage by slamming in four goals and as their talisman the 33-year-old forward is the player all of the squad look to for a moment of magic.
“They’re a team that have been playing together for a while. They have very important players, like Cristiano...,” Uruguay defender Sebastian Coates, who plays for Portuguese club Sporting, told reporters on Wednesday.
“While of course he’s a worldwide star, we’re going to treat him with the same respect. You do not prepare for a game against one player but against a team,” added Coates.
At least Uruguay’s tough back line will likely put up a fight against the talented Real Madrid player, as they have yet to concede a goal at the tournament in Russia.
“We all defend. The entire team sacrifices itself,” said Coates.
Saturday’s game in Sochi will be unpredictable and will come down to details, he and team mate Matias Vecino told reporters.
“I think it will be a balanced game. It will be defined by details. One-off plays will decide the game,” added midfielder Vecino.
Earlier on Wednesday, team doctor Alberto Pan said he was optimistic that defensive leader Jose Gimenez, who has a thigh injury, had improved enough to play against Portugal.
“He has worked at a less demanding level than the rest of the team. Today he worked at an intermediary level and tomorrow he will join the team normally,” he said.
“Depending on how he responds, which we hope will be positive, he will be at the disposition of the coach.”
