Italy v Uruguay Predictions & Betting Odds – World Cup 2014

Can Italy hold off challenge of Uruguay in Group D?

Italy v Uruguay
Italy v Uruguay

Italy v Uruguay World Cup 2014, 24th June Betting Preview

Somehow, after losing their opening match against Costa Rica, Uruguay are favourites to join the Central Americans in the next round. The return of Luis Suarez was a massive boon for them as his brace knocked out England, and put Uruguay in qualification contention, helped by Italy also being beaten by Costa Rica.

Italy v Uruguay Betting Tips

What a turn up Group D has been. This match was supposed to be a match to decide who finishes as group winner. It hasn’t panned out that way because of the upsets that Costa Rica have caused in the group. Costa Rica, having beaten both of them already in the group have secured progress to the knockout stages, so these two have to fight it out to see who joins the Central Americans. The bookmakers are having a hard time in separating the two sides in this one, and that should equate to a really tense match.

Still, neither have shown too much defensively, both having failed to keep a clean sheet in either of their matches so far. So it is probably worth going over 2.5 goals and shooting for Both Teams To Score as well. Italy do have an advantage in this one, because they will progress with a draw, while Uruguay have to come out and get a win to move ahead in the competition. Uruguay have the advantage of momentum, with Italy losing their last match, and the South Americans having beaten England.

It hasn’t been plain sailing for Italy against Uruguay, having won just two of nine previous meetings, drawing four and losing three. The last time that the two met was at the 2013 Confederations Cup, with Italy winning a penalty shoot out for third place. But overall, the form of Italy at the World Cup against South American nations is good, having only lost three of nineteen. This will be a big test of their character, because they looked devoid of creativity and pace against Costa Rica. Mario Balotelli is trading at 2/1 in the anytime goalscorer market for them.

Uruguay have the better strike force in Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. Suarez, thanks to his brace against England, has now scored five goals in seven World Cup appearances, and he is up as 7/5 favourite in the anytime goalscorer market. Cavani has played a hand in three of Uruguay’s last five World Cup goals though. They will need a big game from both of them, as Uruguay have failed to score in their two previous World Cup matches against Italy. Of the two sides, Uruguay are in better winning form, having posted a W4 D1 L1 record in their last six, where Italy have only managed a W1 D3 L2 record.

Italy v Uruguay Betting Odds

Uruguay 7/4, Italy 9/5, Draw 9/4

Suarez is probably going to be backed heavily in this one. If you are thinking of him in the first goalscorer market, then head to Bwin, because if your successful selection in the First Goalscorer market in any World Cup match goes on to score a second or a third in the game, then you will get paid out double or treble winnings respectively.

Italy v Uruguay Predictions

Tough for the punters to split this one, given the odds on offer at bookmakers. The deciding factor could be the fact that Uruguay have the better options up front, even though they are far weaker in the midfield area. Neither are world beating sides, defences are vulnerable and despite what is at stake, would still look over 2.5 goals in the match.