Uruguay expect to qualify for World Cup second round

Uruguay's national football team coach Oscar Tabarez said he will go to Brazil 2014 World Cup expecting to qualify for the second round.

Uruguay is part of Group D with Costa Rica, England and Italy. Tabarez said it is a "difficult" group but not the "group of death", reported Xinhua.

"The idea is to go well prepared and we have the expectation of qualifying for the second round. We have expectations but we cannot predict any result. It is not convenient to put pressure on the team. We have dreams just as everyone else but we have to work professionally and this is not a matter of illusion or euphoria. It is about reality," Tabarez said Thursday.

"Costa Rica is difficult for us, we have already experienced that. And the other two have very good records. Especially Italy, who have been three-time champions and both countries have important local leagues," he said, admitting that if the rivals would had been others, maybe it would be easier.

Uruguay play Costa Rica June 14 in Fortaleza, against England June 19 in Sao Paulo and against Italy June 24 in Natal.