Uruguay vs Colombia
8 October 1500hrs
Football – International – World Cup Qualifiers
Pick Uruguay
Bookmaker Betvictor
Odds: 1/1 odds taken 2000 GMT, Wednesday 29 September
Uruguay and Colombia both have their sights set on reaching next year’s World Cup and it makes their meeting in South American qualification hugely important for both.
Table of Contents
Uruguay Preview – Will Uruguay make it three straight wins to boost qualification hopes?
The most recent international break could prove to be hugely significant for Uruguay and their hopes of making it to Qatar 2022. Seven points from their three games – including home wins over Bolivia and Ecuador have propelled the first ever winners of the World Cup into the top four of the qualifying section. Only Brazil and Argentina are above them as things stand but with four points separating themselves and three others, there is still plenty of work to do – starting with this game against one of those rivals.
Uruguay had actually won just two of their first seven qualifiers but the experience this group of players have built up over the years is coming to the fore at a crunch time. But there are still nine games to go and a lot can yet change.
You have to go all the way back to 2011 for a nation not named Brazil last defeated Uruguay in their own country during World Cup qualification. It’s two defeats in 22 home qualifiers with 15 wins in that same period. However you look at that record it’s very impressive and gives them confidence heading into the second half of this campaign.
Unsurprisingly it’s Luis Suarez who is spearheading their charge once again. He has four goals in the group and that’s despite not being available for any of last month’s qualifiers.
Colombia Preview – Can Colombia avenge their defeat against his rival from earlier in the campaign?
Reinaldo Rueda is not in his third spell as coach of the Colombian national team having taken over in January. He’s never taken his home nation to the World Cup finals but has masterminded Honduras’ qualification back in 2010 and Ecuador’s four years later. Rueda was sacked as manager of Chile four games into the start of this campaign but replaced Carols Queiroz who paid the price for Colombia’s poor start.
That included a heavy home defeat against Uruguay before a humiliating 6-1 loss away to Ecuador.
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Rueda led Colombia to a third place finish in this summer’s Copa America and is looking to protect an undefeated run in World Cup qualifiers since returning to the job. They’ve beaten Peru and Chile whilst drawing with Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. Colombia face Brazil and Ecuador in their next two games during this international break so it’s a really challenging spell of games.
The good news for Rueda is that veteran striker Radamel Falcao is in excellent form since joining Rayo Vallecano. He’s scored three in four La Liga matches and gives him another option in attack alongside the likes of Duvan Zapata and Luis Diaz.
Uruguay vs Colombia Betting Advice
The incentive for Colombia is not only to avenge the embarrassing home defeat at the beginning of qualification but also to get the points which would put them above Uruguay in the section. The hosts will be hopeful of continuing their good form from the last set of games. Particularly as Luis Suarez will return and he’s been in excellent form for Atletico Madrid over the last month.
The most recent meeting between the two teams came in the summer’s Copa America but there was nothing to separate the two as the quarter-final was settled on penalties with Colombia eventually prevailing.
Key Facts – Uruguay vs Colombia Betting Tip
- Uruguay have won 15 of their last 22 home matches in World Cup qualification
- Colombia have recovered from two heavy losses at the start of this campaign to sit fifth
- The teams met in the quarter-finals of the Copa America with Colombia advancing after winning on penalties
Whilst there has been improvement under Rueda and Colombia have fought their way back into contention, it’s hard to ignore Uruguay’s home form in qualification. Two defeats in 22 is excellent and they should have enough to see off their opponents.
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