Italy v Uruguay Betting Preview
The battle for third place in a tournament is rarely a thrilling encounter, but if these two open up then it could be a good match. However, their exertions in the semi finals could have taken away all interest for this one because of fatigue, and we could also see some personnel changes. The two sides have been very busy in recent times and at the end of a tournament in the South American heat, this game may struggle to get up to full tempo. Eleven places only separate the two sides in the FIFA World Rankings and there may not be much to separate them on the pitch.
Italy v Uruguay Betting Odds at online bookmaker BetFred
Uruguay 13/8, Italy 6/4, draw 12/5
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Italy v Uruguay Recommended Bet:
Of the two nations, Italy have produced the higher quality performances throughout the 2013 Confederations Cup. They pushed Brazil hard in their group decider and then took Spain all the way to a penalty shoot out in the semi finals. Huge credit is due to coach Cesare Prandelli for some brilliant tactical decisions throughout the tournament, and he has used his squad to its maximum potential. Unfortunately, when it has come to the crunch, they have just fallen a little short. Their effort can’t be faulted though and they are an expansive side who look to attack. But playing this match after Thursday’s draining semi final match, isn’t going to do Prandelli’s men any favours. The coach called out the deciding factor in this one already, fitness. Italy pretty much left everything on the pitch against Spain, looking out on their feet during the extra time periods.
But their football quality is very high, they are tactically astute and threatening up front. They are missing Mario Balotelli, so Stephan El Shaarawy could get a start. They have played better football than Uruguay have at the tournament, but with the extra days’ rest going to the South Americans, they are going off as favourites to take the win. Coach Oscar Tabarez’s men lost out to a late goal by Brazil in their semi final match up. They have produced some efficient football, without really ever looking at their expansive best at any point. They did put Brazil under the cosh for a while in the semi final, but for some reason they can’t find more goals. The coach will now have to make a decision about keeping Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan together up front, with the production from them being pretty low.
This will be the 7th match in the last 25 days for La Celeste, so they have been busy. They have good tournament nous, but this may be a match they coast through, because they will have a bigger focus on trying to get back to Brazil next summer, their qualification still in doubt. However, gaining a third place finish here should give them some confidence. Tactically, they haven’t quite hit the nail on the head at any point in the 2013 Confederations Cup but they dig in well. La Celeste did beat Italy back in a friendly in 2011, the last time that they met, taking a 1-0 win in Rome. They looked a world beating side when they claimed the 2011 Copa America, but it’s been downhill since. Following that win against Italy in November of 2011, La Celeste have won just six of nineteen matches since.
Tiredness may really catch up to all the players in this one. Italy have expended more, simply by playing a more expansive game at a higher tempo than Uruguay have done. It could just give the edge to the South Americans in this one and they are worth backing in a Draw/Uruguay half time/full time bet for value of 5/1 at online betting site BetFred.
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In the Italy v Uruguay head to head, there have been seven previous meetings, and the tally stands at two wins apiece. This will be their first ever Confederations Cup meeting. The last time they came together was in that 2011 friendly meeting, where Italy were being punished for being wasteful in front of goal.
Stat Attack
Edinson Cavani has just six goals in his last 28 appearances for his country
Italy became the first team in 16 games to keep a clean sheet against Spain
Italy have hit the woodwork seven times in the tournament, half of the 14 in total by all teams
