Pearce eyes Uruguay scalp
- Wednesday,
Team GB v Uruguay
London 2012 Olympic Games
7.45pm, Wednesday 1 August 2012
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Live on BBC
Team GB Head Coach Stuart Pearce admits his side will enter a "sudden death" situation when they face Uruguay in their final group stage clash of the Olympics Men’s Football competition on Wednesday.
Sunday night’s excellent 3-1 win over United Arab Emirates at Wembley propelled Team GB to the top of Group A, where they are level on points with Senegal, who defeated Uruguay earlier that day.
However, Team GB’s berth in the quarter final stage is not certain, and Pearce says his players will have to up their game to overcome the Group A "favourites" and advance to the next phase.
"We’re in a sort of us and them scenario with Uruguay. It’s nigh-on sudden death to be fair," said Pearce.
"It’s all to play for, it should be an exciting game on Wednesday, but we know we’ve got a lot of hard work to do.
"Uruguay, in my eyes, were probably favourites to win the group. But, I’ve seen not much reason to doubt why they should not be favourites now, but it’s all to play for."
Pearce also reserved praise for Senegal, who held Team GB to a battling 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last Thursday.
"Senegal have got themselves in a very strong position, playing against a team that are already going home," he added.
"They look really strong to go through and one of us will have to try and join them."
Swansea City winger Scott Sinclair, who scored with his first touch to restore Team GB’s lead against UAE last night, has tipped the Millennium Stadium crowd to replicate the support shown by fans at Old Trafford and Wembley and help spur the team to victory.
"We obviously know that a draw is going to take us through, but we’ve got to go in the right mind-set of going to win the game and top the group," said Sinclair.
"It’s going to be exceptional for the fans, and all the people - the support behind us has been great. And going down to Cardiff and I’m sure it’ll be just the same."
