Forlan rises above surface tension

DIEGO FORLAN was less than happy with the surface at the Aviva Stadium after Uruguay trained on the pitch yesterday evening.

But the last year’s World Cup Golden Ball winner was looking on the bright side, at least he wasn’t still in Tallinn where his side lost 2-0 to Estonia on Friday in a snowstorm.

So although the pitch, which has been under fire since the Carling Nations Cup matches and hasn’t been helped by the Six Nations clashes with France and England or the recent dry spell in Dublin, came in for some criticism — at least the sun was shining.

“The pitch is not very nice but I hope it is a good game,” he said. “The pitch is going to be the same for both of us. It’s not the best pitch because there have been so many games, including rugby games, but it’s quick and hopefully tomorrow it will be nice and the ball will roll well. This is like summer for us, in Estonia it was freezing. In the first half, we played well, we had a couple of chances and then in the second half the pitch was hard and it was difficult.

While Ireland are understrength this evening, their visitors will field eight members of the team that pushed Holland all the way in the World Cup semi-final — plus skipper Diego Lugano, who was suspended that night.

They looked keen in training last night, with Edinson Cavani set to play off Forlan up front after Liverpool’s Luis Suarez was left at home. The Napoli man has attracted interest from the Premier League’s big names and is one to watch for Ireland’s makeshift defence.

The defeat to Estonia was Uruguay’s second in succession, having also lost 2-0 to Chile, but the Atletico Madrid striker has warned his side against complacency while admitting he was not surprised Ireland had allowed many of their big names to return to their clubs.

“No, they played a qualifying game on Saturday and some of the players have been playing a lot of games so the coach decides, it’s okay,” said Forlan. “It doesn’t matter if the Irish players are young or old, every player from all the over world when they get a chance to play for the national team they’re going to try to do their best.”