Quality against fire: why Uruguay's clash with France could indicate how the World Cup will be won

Uruguay and France will face Friday in what is not only the first and one of the most anticipated quarterfinals of this summer's World Cup, but also the one that could provide the best indication of what will be needed A team that will win the tournament in Russia

From the beginning of the group stages, the edition of this year's World Cup will be held. has been proven capable of providing more shocks, rollovers, high score matches and a plethora of major incidents. The elimination of Germany in the group stage, effectively by South Korea thanks to a 2-0 defeat on the last day of Group F, finally caused a shock and unpredictability for the rest of the competition. While the whirlwind of the outing of the reigning world champions finally came to an end, the current Portugal, reigning European champion, was quick to follow his example, while Uruguay Ronaldo and co.

If the exit from Portugal seemed to have provided all the necessary shock for the turn, Russia had other ideas. The hosts were not prepared to stand out at their own party and may have offered the biggest surprise of the tournament, as they have been keen to send imperial Spain. on penalties.

Japan has threatened to continue a 2-0 lead against the long-awaited Belgium, only for the Red Devils to overcome the deficit in a late and dramatic way to advance in the quarter-finals.

More recently in this vein, Sweden has produced a tough and laborious performance to overcome the odds against a Swiss team that many expected to overcome their technically limited opponents. Instead, it was the Swedes who advanced to the quarter-finals.

Such a succession of unlikely victories for the less advanced and less advanced nations on some of the finest national teams has meant that the shock is no longer so unexpected this tournament is a theme that is clearly not the fruit of a coincidence.

What all of these "loser" victories have in common is the struggle against technical superiority, elite quality and star staff with industry, determination, resolve and a work ethic uncompromising.

The likes of Russia and Sweden have proved that the ability alone does not win football matches. Especially not at this World Cup, where hard work and application are just as important as skills and technique, if not more.

The only real exceptions to this theme of the tournament come from Brazil and France. [19659012SambaLesstarshavebeenmatchingtheMexicoextremelyconsciousofthelaborentxperiencedperformanceoftheshaphasofgroupswhichwasevendefeatedinthefirstdayofplay

Brazil was not to be defeated. They were calm, composed and baderted their technical superiority with confidence and efficiency.

France has run into a troubled giant in Argentina. Despite the intimidating presence of Lionel Messi on the side of Jorge Sampaoli, France was clearly on the side of the team spirit, the work ethic and the general technical superiority.

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France is the only one of the two superpowers to have so far combined the two opposing approaches, tactical resolution and hard work, technical brilliance and quality of star, and managed to merge the two as a winning formula. Uruguay, it will be interesting to see how strong the will of the French is against a South American team that has come to define the laborious and laborious approach to victory at all costs.

While the Uruguayans boasted of the superstar Duo of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani in attack, it is undoubtedly the French who possess the highest general technical quality.

However, while France has shown strong willpower if we want to work hard to form teams at tournaments in this summer tournament, the active side of the game is far stronger than that of Uruguay.

Will the offensive quality of the French suffice to overcome resolute determination? The ruthless work rate of South Americans remains to be seen.

While France managed to impressively overcome a real gambling giant in Argentina, they also conceded three goals in the match process. Only their ability to surpbad the Argentine team, defensively poor, allowed Didier Deschamps to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Against Uruguay, scoring chances will be much more expensive. While Kylian Mbappe has been able to intimidate the Argentine defense and leave it in tatters, the prodigious French star will have no luck facing Diego Godin and Jose Maria Gimenez on the bottom line of the Uruguay

at the tournament so far. France, meanwhile, has shipped four out of four.

While the plethora of high quality and supreme technical abilities extends from the front of the French side, from Raphael Varane in defense, to Paul Pogba in midfield, to Antoine Griezmann and Mbappe in attack, it remains to be seen whether their technical superiority will be enough to defeat the tactical trick and industrious efficiency on which Uruguay flourishes.

France will have to match the intelligence and determination of its South American counterparts. If this World Cup has proven a thing so far, it is that nothing should be taken for granted, because the ability and technical superiority do not guarantee anything in a tournament where the surprise results are numerous and shock waves are to be expected. Friday's match, which will be the ultimate match between European quality and the South American fire, should provide the clearest indication as to what any aspiring champion will have to do to reign in Russia this summer.