Italy v Uruguay 1x2 prediction and betting tips

Match	Date	Selection	Bet	Odds	Bet now
Italy v Uruguay 1x2 prediction and betting tips World Cup 2014, International	24/06/2014 18:00	full time result	Uruguay	2.75	Bet at B
Betting prediction was written by Dan Adair

ITALY v URUGUAY: GAMES SO FAR

Italy have so far showed the good and the bad. An opening 2-1 win over England was huge cause for optimism. They played a controlled game and just shaded it over and England side who played well for the majority of the game. Italy looked very balanced and had Pirlo as usual dictating the play. They followed this up with a non performance against Costa Rica. They looked slow, unadventurous and not a side to be feared. Uruguay opened up with a desperate display to go down 3-1 to Costa Rica. They followed this up with a more disciplined game against England. They battled hard and were not afraid to stick the boot in. Upfront Cavani was very mobile and Luis Suarez confirmed his place among the best players in the world with an unbelievable performance, scoring twice.

THE ITALY SQUAD

Coach: Cesare Prandelli

Goalkeepers: 1.Gianluigi Buffon *C* (Juventus), 12.Salvatore Sirigu (Paris St Germain), 13.Mattia Perin (Genoa).

Defenders: 15.Andrea Barzagli, 19.Leonardo Bonucci, 3.Giorigo Chiellini (all Juventus), 20.Gabriel Paletta (Parma), 7.Ignazio Abate, 2.Mattia De Sciglio (both AC Milan), 4.Matteo Darmian (Torino).

Midfielders: 21.Andrea Pirlo, 8.Claudio Marchisio (both Juventus), 5.Thiago Motta, 23.Marco Verratti (both Paris St Germain), 16.Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), 6.Antonio Candreva (Lazio), 18.Marco Parolo (Parma), 14.Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina).

Forwards: 9.Mario Balotelli (AC Milan), 10.Antonio Cassano (Parma), 11.Alessio Cerci (Torino), 17.Ciro Immobile (Torino), 22.Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli)

THE URUGUAY SQUAD

Coach: Oscar Tabarez

Goalkeepers : 1.Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), 23.Martin Silva (Vasco da Gama), 12.Rodrigo Munoz (Libertad).

Defenders: 16.Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica), 2.Diego Lugano *C* (West Bromwich Albion), 3.Diego Godin, 19.Jose Maria Gimenez (both Atletico Madrid), 4.Sebastian Coates (Liverpool), 22.Martin Caceres (Juventus), 13.Jorge Fucile (Porto).

Midfielders: 20.Alvaro Gonzalez (Lazio), 6.Alvaro Pereira (Sao Paulo), 5.Walter Gargano (Parma), 17.Egidio Arevalo Rios (Morelia), 15.Diego Perez (Bologna), 7.Cristian Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), 18.Gaston Ramirez (Southampton), 14.Nicolas Lodeiro (Botafogo).

Forwards: 9.Luis Suarez (Liverpool), 21.Edinson Cavani (Paris St Germain), 8.Abel Hernandez (Palermo), 10.Diego Forlan (Cerezo Osaka), 11.Christian Stuani (Espanyol).

MATCH ANALYSIS

This game is a three way match now with it difficult to split all three results. Italy need a draw at worst to go through as they hold a better goal difference to Uruguay. Italy have not showed much in the way of real attacking intent over the two games. They scored via a corner and a deep cross against England but other than that never really threatened. In Costa Rica they surpsiingly never created a real clear cut opportunity. Uruguay are a similar side in makeup to Italy but have the front two that any side in World football would take. Suarez was simply unplayable against England and I think he may be too much for the ponderous Italy central defence.

BETTING TIPS 1X2

I am taking Uruguay here to upset the odds and send the Europeans packing. Italy have not shown enough for me to warrant a bet on them. They will get carried away with the need to grab a draw and although I see a low scoring game I do believe Uruguay have the strike power to take a goal and the win. A very scrappy game here with a fair few bookings too as two teams versed in the dark arts go head to head.

Back Uruguay at 2.75 (7/4) with Bet365.