Forlan's fitness bad news for Bafana

It was great news for Uruguay on Wednesday, but bad news for Bafana Bafana.

The injury scare to current European scoring scourge Diego Forlan, following a heavy collision with Uruguayan teammate Walter Gargano in training, is not as serious as first feared.

The underrated Uruguayans, the dangerous dark horses in Group A, play Bafana in their second World Cup opening round match at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday - and the flamboyant 31 year-old Forlan, whose goals for Atletico Madrid sunk Liverpool and Fulham respectively in the recent Europa Cup semi-finals and final, is viewed by many as one of the major threats to South Africa's prospects of reaching the second round.

Forlan, twice a European "Golden Boot" winner, enjoyed mixed fortunes during a three-season spell with Manchester United from 2003 to 2006, but has since become one of the most feared strikers in Europe while notching up 120 goals in 208 appearances for Spanish clubs Villareal and Atletico Madrid.

He was largely instrumental in Atletico annexing the initial Europa Cup during the immediate past season and the sight of his long flowing locks forging towards goal has been a nightmare for defenders in both Spain's La Liga and European competition.

And, in Uruguay's impressive recent World Cup warm-up victories over Israel and Switzerland, by 4-1 and 3-1 margins respectively, the prolific Forlan scored on both occasions.

His transfer to Atletico Madrid from Villareal in 2007 was for a reported R150-million and he gained the prized Piechichi Trophy as the top scorer in Spain with both Atletico and Villareal.

Clearly looming as a handful for the Bafana defence, the striking Forlan, who is involved in a fashion business with his actress wife as a sideline, is not the only quality player in the Uruguayan squad.

And while Mexico and France have been mentioned as the standard favourites in the World Cup's Group A, Uruguay are more than capable of providing a string of surprises - starting with their opening game against France in Cape Town on Friday. - Sapa