Pienaar: South Africa can put nervous start behind them

South Africa v Uruguay; Today, 7.30pm, ITV 1

Having emerged from the intense pressures of the opening game with a point, Steven Pienaar believes the host nation will be better able to thrive against Uruguay in Pretoria tonight. South Africa's players admitted to struggling to cope with the expectation against Mexico. But that will not be a factor against the South Americans, according to the Everton midfielder.

"We will be more relaxed now we have Mexico out of the way. We were all nervous in that first game," Pienaar said yesterday. "But we got our act together in the second half and need to continue that against Uruguay. We cannot afford to lose."

The Uruguay coach, Oscar Tabarez, is expected to adopt a more attacking approach with Diego Forlan playing behind a front two of Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani.

"Forlan is a player we can't leave free," said Carlos Alberto Parreira, South Africa's coach. "Our eyes should be on him all the time, for 90 minutes. We have got to win at least one of the next two remaining games, it's very clear for everybody." South Africa's final game is against France.