Forlan hopes to return as Uruguay aim to bow out in style

Uruguay striker Diego Forlan has spoken of his desire to play in Saturdays third place play-off despite coming off early in the semi-final defeat to the Netherlands with a tendon problem, dpa reported.

Forlan said on Wednesday: I have a slight strain above the tendon, caused by fatigue, but we will wait and see if I can make it in time for Saturday."

The Atletico Madrid striker, who scored the equaliser against the Dutch before he was taken off in the second half, added: It was a problem for me during the game and it got progressively worse. It was frustrating not being 100 per cent fit."

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez justified his decision to take Forlan off and put Sebastian Fernandez on with six minutes left saying: He had a slight injury from the start. He told me that he was okay to carry on but the pain got worse and we wanted fresh legs."

Forlan has four goals in the tournament and will have the chance to add to that tally against Spain or Germany in Port Elizabeth on Saturday if he passes fit.

Uruguay go into the match without the usual apathy of a third place play-off team whose hopes of a final appearance have been dashed at the final hurdle.

Striker Luis Suarez said on Wednesday in Cape Town: We have had a great World Cup but we dont want to stop there; we want third place."

The Ajax forward will be back for Saturdays game having served his one-match suspension for handball against Ghana in the quarter- finals.

His sentiments were shared by team-mate Sebastian Abreu who said: Finishing third is not the same as finishing fourth."

And midfielder Alvaro Pereira added: "We have to lift ourselves and go forward once again so that we can leave the (Uruguay) flag as high up as possible. We have to play the third place play-off as if it was a final."