Uruguay: Tabarez wants the most out of tournament

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has told his players to hold on to their World Cup dreams after seeing them book their place in the quarter-finals.

Two goals from star striker Luis Suarez, the second just 10 minutes from time, were enough to see off South Korea at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth yesterday and spark wild celebrations in Montevideo.

It is 60 years since Uruguay lifted the World Cup for the second time, and the odds on them doing so in South Africa remain long.

However, they have reached the last eight, where they will face the sole African survivors, Ghana, by conceding just one goal in their four games to date, and Tabarez wants his players to continue to enjoy the ride and not give up on anything.

He said: "Let's see how far we can go on this stage. We are not building castles in the air, but I don't see why we should be resigned to anything.

"We don't have to renounce anything before playing the matches."

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan, however, has been in the game long enough to know tougher challenges lie ahead, and he is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

He said: "It's just one game, you know, an elimination game, and nowadays every team is going to be difficult, so we know it's going to be tough.

"We just need to think about the next game and see what happens.

"It's very nice, I'm very happy. We will try to continue in this way. We know it's difficult, but we had a great game and we are really happy with it."

Tabarez and his players swiftly turned their attention to Friday's clash with Ghana, who last night beat the United States after extra-time, at Soccer City in Johannesburg, although the coach admitted he was having to pinch himself.

He said: "Before the game, I said to the players 'if we accomplish our goal, we will have another week to enjoy ourselves'.

"We have to prepare for our upcoming match. I am very satisfied with my team. We don't have to improve many things, simply capitalise on this and give our all against our next opponent.

"We now have six days to work and prepare for the quarter-finals, but the result we have got here is what gives us our ticket to the quarter-finals.

"We are among the eight best teams at this World Cup. It's true, but I still can't believe it."

Uruguay secured their passage when, after Suarez had put them ahead with just eight minutes gone, the Ajax frontman cancelled out Lee Chung-Yong's 68th-minute equaliser with a superb curling effort.

His sweet strike brought an end to Korea's dreams of emulating the their run to the semi-finals in 2002.

Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-yueng said: "You know, we played brilliantly today and we made a lot of chances to score. We just didn't convert our chances.

"But I'm really happy with the boys who played today. We showed that Asian football is good enough to play against the world."

Coach Huh Jung-moo too was philosophical in defeat.

He said: "We are growing, but on the other hand, we do have areas to improve on.

"It's very important for our players to learn more from international teams by playing on foreign leagues and also by playing more against foreign opponents."

Asked about his own future, Huh said: "To be perfectly honest, I have focused solely on the World Cup finals. I haven't thought about what to do after the finals are over.

"I want to take some time to relax and lie back and think about what I will do in the future."