Manager: Oscar Tabarez
Captain: Diego Lugano

Continent: South America
Nicknames: La Celeste
Group: A

World Cup appearances: 10
Best World Cup: Winners; 1930 & 1950
FIFA World Ranking: 18

Uruguay Team Profile

The two time winners of the World Cup, albeit their last crown coming 60 years ago, will be gunning for the hat-trick in South Africa, although they will need to defy the odds. Uruguay haven’t been given much hope by the bookies, perhaps because they weren’t entirely convincing during qualifying after needing a play-off with Costa Rica to finally seal their tickets to Africa. However, the Uruguayans are a dangerous nation as they boast some serious quality in their ranks, and Oscar Tabarez does have an outside chance of guiding Uruguay to a successful World Cup – which would be qualifying for the last sixteen of the competition.

Uruguay had many admirers back when they won the World Cup, twice, as they are one of the smallest nations competing in this summers showcase event and are officially the smallest nation ever to win a World Cup, with an estimated 4Million population. However, all you need for a successful team is one or two decent individuals and Uruguay have that heading into South Africa. However, this will be just their second World Cup in 20 years and there are doubts about whether the players, who won’t be used to the hype and expectations set back home, can handle the spotlight and pressure. They are a nation who have, however, qualified 10 times for a World Cup and have been very consistent in tournaments back in the continent of South America.

Uruguay Key Players

Luis Suarez

I’ve long admired the Ajax forward as he is a quality forward and one that will demand a lot of cash in due course. Suarez has become Forlan’s ample striking parter for Uruguay and the pair have formed a budding relationship up front for their country, with the pair scoring 12 goals between them during qualifying, with Suarez bagging five of them. However, it is Suarez who heads into South Africa in the form of his life as he’s been banging in the goals in Holland for fun, scoring a colossal 22 league goals in 21 league appearances. He has been at the forefront of Ajax’s charge for a craved title, with his deadly finishing and self-made ability to create his own goals why he’s been such a success back in Holland. However, the Dutch league has fallen down the ranks in recent years and it will be interesting to see if Suarez can replicate his club form in South Africa.

Diego Forlan

The Athletico Madrid forward has been an instant hit in Spain and has won the Golden boot award twice while at Madrid, the first coming in 2005 while the second came last season after he scored 33 goals in 32 games for his club. Many of you will remember Forlan from his days at Manchester United where he was often touted as a flop for his dry spells in front of goals. However, he has been a sensation in Spain and has been just as prolific for his country, scoring 22 goals in 60 caps. He is a proper forward in that he has this selfish manner to him but he backs it up with plenty of goals. He is a typical predator in and around the goal, while he also knows how to finish under pressure. Forlan will be a danger, a nuisance if you like, for any defence in Africa.

Strengths

Their best quality would have to be their attacking play, especially as it’s spearheaded by two of Europe’s best strikers in Diego Forlan & Luis Suarez, the latter one of the upcoming stars and a future hit. When Uruguay do get forward, they cause opposing defences all sort of problems as their deadly striking duet know how to exploit gaps in defence and put themselves into scoring positions. They also have players which can strike a ball from anywhere and this Uruguay side does have goals in them.

Weaknesses

Uruguay are a confidence side and if they don’t make a bright start in South African then doubts will start to creep in. They are also very inconsistent and don’t exactly excel away from home. They were also beaten by both Brazil & Argentina twice during qualifying, meaning their credentials when they do come up against the elite nations aren’t flattering as they have proven to be bottlers in the crunch games. A perfect example of this was in Uruguay’s last qualifier when all they needed was a draw to qualify for the finals. Of course, despite Argentina enduring one of their worst spells in it’s prestigious history, Uruguay lost the encounter 1-0, on home soil, and their performance on the night shown everyone that Uruguay still lack the nerve and steel to come up good in the big games.

Uruguay Qualification for the World Cup

Sector: South America
Position: 5th
Win-Draw-Lose: 6-6-6
Goals Scored: 28
Goals Conceded: 20

Uruguay has a largely inconsistent campaign in which one minute they appeared to have slid claims for qualifying only to then ruin their chances. They did bottle their final qualifier in which they would have qualified via a fourth place finish had they of avoided defeat to Argentina. However, their fate was instead left to a two-legged play-off with Costa Rica from North America. Uruguay did, only just mind, beat Costa Rica over two legs after winning the away leg 1-0 before a nervy encounter in Uruguay, drawing 1-1.

World Cup Potential: 3/5

Uruguay have more than quality in their squad to spring a surprise and we feel their huge price tag makes them a more than worthy outside bet. The likes of Diego Forlan & Luis Suarez will be key in their chances to land a surprise World Cup but they’ve proven only recently that the big games just aren’t for them and we could quite easily see Uruguay make an earlier exit than we want nor expected. Still, the potential is there for a few big displays and they will be a dangerous opponent for everyone.

Uruguay World Cup Betting Odds

Uruguay to win the World Cup (Outright): 12/1 Bet365

Before the World Cup the odds on Uruguay were 100/1 

Official Uruguay World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers

Fernando Muslera (Lazio Roma)

Juan-Guillermo Castillo (Deportivo Cali)

Martin Silva (Defensor Sporting)

Defenders

Diego Lugano (Fenerbahce)

Diego Godin (Villarreal)

Andres Scotti (Colo Colo)

Jorge Fucile (Porto)

Martin Caceres (Juventus)

Mauricio Victorino (Universidad de Chile)

Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica)

Midfielders

Walter Gargano (Napoli)

Egidio Arevalo-Rios (Penarol)

Sebastian Eguren (AIK Stockholm)

Diego Perez (Monaco)

Alvaro Pereira (Porto)

Alvaro Fernandez (Universidad de Chile)

Ignacio Gonzalez (Valencia)

Nicolas Lodeiro (Ajax)

Strikers

Sebastian Fernandez (Banfield)

Luis Suarez (Ajax)

Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid)

Sebastian Abreu (Botafogo)

Edinson Cavani (Palermo)

last update: 18 June 2010

World Cup 2010 Uruguay Fixtures – Group A

26/06 – 15.00 – Round of the last 16: Uruguay – South Korea: 2-1

02/07 – 19.30 – Quarter Finals: Uruguay – Ghana: 4-2 on penalties (1-1)

06/07 – 19.30 – Semi Finals: Urugay – Holland

World Cup 2010 Group A - Table

World Cup Fixtures and Results

World Cup 2010 Third Place Play-Off Odds

Uruguay to win: 9/2 at SportingBet
Draw: 13/5 at Bet365
Germany to win: 8/11 at Bet365

Uruguay

Uruguay, after battling well against Holland in the 2010 FIFA World Cup semi final, find themselves in the third place play off match against Germany, a fixture which is often met with scepticism. Usually nations simply give a run out to the squad players who have not really gotten a chance to shine at all through the tournament. This devalues the game a little bit, but after missing out on a place in the World Cup final, how motivated are nations supposed to be? Moral and interest probably won’t be that high, but Uruguay can be very proud of the progress which they have made through the tournament. After basically coming from nowhere, they were on the brink of making the World Cup Final, when they had been fully overlooked in World Cup betting at the start of the tournament. Their strengths have been in the way they stick together as a team, and while their style has not been the most exciting to watch, they have certainly contributed to the World Cup in a large way. After being the last of the 32 teams to qualify for South Africa 2010, they exceeded everyone’s expectations, and now they can finish in third place, which would crown a big step forward for the nation.

A dogged, hard grafting team, Uruguay have suffocated teams and have hit hard on the counter attack. They have been helped with a wonderful attack which consists of Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez. It will be interesting now just how far Uruguay can go in terms of building upon this success. Being the second smallest populated country at the World Cup, Uruguay have made the best of their resources, and now they need to ensure that they become a force to be reckoned with in South Africa for some time to come. Their eventual undoing was not having enough creativity in midfield. While Forlan was playing with an injury, the Uruguay side were missing the creative influence of Nicholas Lodeiro in the middle of the park, and therefore the South Americans failed to get any real quality distribution forward. They also had to play their semi final against the Netherlands without the quality of Suarez up front, who was red carded in Uruguay’s quarter final triumph against Ghana for punching a shot off the line. His controversial action paid dividends as Ghana missed the last minute penalty, and Uruguay pushed on through in a penalty shoot out. Who really would have predicted Uruguay finishing in the last four at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The last four was supposed to be all about the glamour sides like Argentina and Brazil, but in a World Cup full of surprises, the success of Uruguay has been one of the biggest.

They will not have won many friends because of the Suarez handball, but they deserve their plaudits. Star man Diego Forlan, who hit four goals in the tournament, revealed that he had been playing the semi final with an injury, but he can hold his head high knowing that he has been one of the best performers of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Whether the semi final will be the end of his World Cup adventures remains to be seen, as his injury may well keep him out of the third placed match. It is always a strange occasion watching two teams who are a bit apathetic towards the occasion take to the field. But the match is there to be played, and one player returning to the side will probably be Suarez, who has three goals to his name. Injuries and suspension hurt Uruguay badly ahead of their semi final match, and now coach Oscar Tabarez will hope to inspire his men to finish third ahead of Germany. Against the odds, Uruguay were the last South American team left in the tournament amongst Europe’s best, and now what would really be the crowning moment on their 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign, would be for them to really come out of their shell and put on a fiesta of football against Germany. There really is nothing to lose anymore for them, after their World Cup dreams ended with a 3-2 defeat by Holland. There has been enough quality in the side though to suggest that they have plenty to build with, but four years is a long time in football, and Uruguay need to use that time wisely in nurturing their youngster.

Germany

The biggest question surrounding Germany, will be how well their youngsters will respond to the disappointment of losing to pre tournament favourites Spain in the semi finals. Germany have been one of the most thrilling teams to watch at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, putting four goals past Australia, England and Argentina on their way to the semi finals. Joachim Loew has built a fantastic young team, but they fell just a little bit short when it mattered most, as the experienced Spaniards got the better of them. Germany may feel like they let themselves down in the end, adopting a much more conservative approach to the game against the Spaniards, as opposed to going out and playing their own match. The Germans were sitting back far too much, worrying about the threats of the Spaniards. All it took was a lapse in concentration at the back from the German defence, which let in Spanish defender Carles Puyol with a headed goal. With the Germans famed through history for their discipline in defence, it was a tough blow for them to suffer. The Germans were also missing four goal Thomas Mueller for the semi final, and his absence felt quite big. That extra little spark when breaking forward was missing, and the chances for the Germans were few and far between.

We did not see the expansive, thrilling German side that had took the tournament by storm. Instead we saw caution, and hopefully, for the World Cup third place match, the attacking Germany will re-emerge. They will be favourites against Uruguay on the day, naturally, and it will be a chance to stretch their legs again without any pressure upon them. After being starved of service in the semi final, striker Miroslav Klose will be hungry to put the ball in the back of the net, as he looks to equal Ronaldo’s World Cup goal scoring record of 15. This could be the German goal scoring legend’s swan song in World Cup history, and while it would have been more fitting for him to have gotten his goal in the World Cup final against fierce rivals Holland, he will have to settle for the chances which come his way against Uruguay. After all, all goals count, no matter who the opposition are.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil will be the next marker for these young Germans on the world stage. They looked to be packed with talent, with the likes of Thomas Mueller and Mesut Oezil dominating the team. Germany have invested heavily in their youth, and coach Joachim Low and Jurgen Klinsmann can be credited with all the hard work they did in shaking up German football, and adapting a more positive approach to their game. Sadly it deserted them against Spain, but that is what playing against the best in the World will do to you. Perhaps it was a touch of the big stage nerves as well, because the Germans did not look anywhere as near as confident on the ball as they were in their quarter final demolition of Argentina. The pitch for the Spain v Germany semi final didn’t help the game either, which turned out to be an low key affair, in which the Spaniards dominated possession. Even after the goal, and with the Germans pushing further and further forward, there was little penetration from the Germans. They only really had one clear chance which fell to Kroos instead of Klose, which Spain’s keeper Iker Casillas parried away. No doubt Joachim Loew will give his youngsters another crack at the whip against Uruguay, as this will be a big test of their mental toughness.

Germany V Uruguay Betting Tips & Prediction

Match Verdict – Who is likely to come out on top of this one? The Germans will be favourite and it is easy to see why. With the pressure off, their young stars could well find the freedom to express themselves. The biggest hope for this game, is that Uruguay actually play more of an open game, more open than we have seen them at the tournament so far, and that will leave them with a big in their column before heading back to South Africa. They have been one of the success stories, and whether or not Forlan plays could be a key factor in them finishing third or fourth, and missing Lodeiro and captain Lugano hurt them in the semi’s. Tabarez may just throw in the unused players now their tournament is over, which may help in seeing them be more expansive. Germany will be of the mindset that they want to build for Euro 2012 and beyond, so we should see a strong side from them. Their youngster have a great future in front of them, and a third placed finish at the World Cup would be a major triumph for their technical and mental ability. A win for Germany would be a good thing for football, championing the success of youth.

Under 2.5 Goals 21/20 at SportingBet

Current Uruguay v Germany Odds:

Uruguay v Holland Betting Odds

Holland to win: 7/10 at Paddy Power
Draw: 13/5 at SkyBet
Uruguay to win: 11/2 at Bet365

World Cup Semi Final
Date: Tuesday, July 6th
Kick Off: 19.30 GMT

Uruguay

Despite having four teams in the Quarter Finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South America have only one representative left, as the remaining Europeans took charge of the competition. Uruguay saw the favoured Brazilians and Argentineans fall by the way side, as they themselves battled through to the semi finals in a tight match against Ghana. Uruguay had the unenviable task of taking on Ghana in the Quarter Finals, who were the last remaining team from Africa. That meant supporters from South America were heavily outnumbered on the African continent, but they were the ones who smiling at the end, after seeing their team win through on penalties. Uruguay have been commended throughout the tournament for their strong defensive play, but they largely had the upper hand in all aspects of their contest against Ghana, who lacked a little punch up front. But it was Ghana who struck first, with a long range effort from midfielder Muntari, who caught Uruguayan keeper Fernando Muslera off guard. It took a great free kick from striker Diego Forlan to draw Uruguay level, but all of the controversy game at the end of extra time, when fellow striker Luis Suarez cleared a shot off his own goal line with his hands. He saw red and Ghana star striker Asamoah Gyan had the chance to put his side into the semi finals, the first time an African nation had been there, from the penalty spot. Gyan hit the bar, and the game went to a shoot-out, which the South Americans won 4-2.

Uruguay have played well throughout the tournament, even if they have not been one of the most exciting teams to watch. They have a superb resilience and team work about them, which is the underlying root of all of their success. They have scored crucial goals when they needed to, and have defended for long periods of game, being quite comfortable in their role of being a defensive team. But they are a side which show a lot of quality when they have time on the ball, with Diego Forlan being at the heart of most of it. While known for his striking prowess across Europe, the number has more tricks up his sleeve than just putting the ball in net. You can watch and admire how he finds space, delivers dead balls with accuracy as well as picking out creative passes. Uruguay are just as comfortable on the ball as any other South American team, but because they have not go the out and out quality as Brazil or Argentina, they work to tactics which work for them. That is being conservative and by giving very little away, it means that they do not have to chase games too hard. Uruguay’s defence works from the front to the back, and the forwards press quite hard to stop the ball getting forward in the first place. The scrapping and quality tackling is a strength of the Uruguayans, especially in midfield, where there are three core players who keep compact. With the two wide forwards dropping back to held in midfield, there is a tough sky blue wall for opponents to get through.

But the South Americans naturally have very good quality up front as well, particularly in the link between Forlan and Suarez. Now however, after his indiscretion in the Quarter Final, Uruguay will have to do without Luis Suarez as they take on Holland in the semi finals. This is quite a big blow for Uruguay, as Suarez is quite the prolific scorer. But, because they generally set up with three players up top, they may be able to cope. Uruguay do put out three forwards, with Forlan linking up between attacking midfielder and extra forward. It is a system which offers a lot of defensive benefits, as well as having the power in position to attack on the counter attack. Uruguay will go into their semi final match as underdogs against Holland, as the Dutch have been riding high on a long run of unbeaten games. But Uruguay can take confidence into the match, simply because of their defence, and knowing that the Netherlands have not looked particularly great through the tournament. Holland v Uruguay will see the South Americans thinking that this as a chance to bring down one of Europe’s elite, by playing a tight, compact game as they always do. Uruguay are a great World Cup Betting tip to grind down, dent the confidence of, and beat Holland.

Uruguay are not a prolific team going forward though, but that does not mean that they do not have goals in them. They are a huge threat from set pieces, and when hitting teams on the break. Holland’s style will suit Uruguay to some extents, as the South Americans will be facing a patient team which like to knock the ball around and look for beautiful goals. Uruguay will be pretty confident that they can negate the threats from Holland, simply by keeping things tight in the middle of the park, and cutting off the supply line to the forwards. They will have to deal with opponents who like to throw a bit more width into their game than any of their opponents have done so far, but with Suarez having to be absent, it may allow for an extra out and out midfielder to spread out and clog up the midfield, leaving just two strikers up top. There is not a harder working team left in the tournament, and the Uruguay strikers always drop back as much as possible anyway, so they always seem to have extra midfielders on the pitch.

Uruguay Team News: Midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro is injured. Captain and defender Diego Lugano is a doubt. Jorge Lugano and Luis Suarez, suspended.

Holland

Holland have not been playing anywhere near their potential of Total Football, the style associated with the Dutch. While they have gone nearly thirty matches now without losing, there appears to be something lacking in their game, an edge that is not quite sharp enough which may see them fail in the Holland v Uruguay semi final. That seems an odd thing to say about a team which just went out and beat Brazil 2-1 in the Quarter Finals. Holland found themselves behind early on in the match after the Brazillian attack were cutting through them like a hot knife through butter. To their credit, they got themselves back into the match with a piece of luck from a cross from key man Wesley Sneijder, which eluded everyone including Julio Cesar in the Brazilian goal. Holland went on to win the match, largely helped by the South Americans completely losing their cool and capitulating, with Brazil’s Felipe Melo being shown the red card. It was a feisty, tetchy match, in which the Netherland were guilty of showing unsportsmanlike conduct, with winger Arjen Robben in particular spending a lot of time on the ground in drawing fouls. He was lucky to still be on the pitch for simulation, as the Dutch players milked all they could in playing up to the referee and agitating the Brazilians.

Holland have not displayed as much firepower as they were expected to have, and while going behind against Brazil was the first time that they have had their backs against the wall, they have not been overly convincing in proving that they have enough to win the World Cup. However, luck does play a huge part in football, and the Dutch are now just two victories away from winning the greatest prize in the game. South Americans Uruguay stand in their way now and it will be tough test for the Dutch, who will need to show a little more passion than they have done. They are on the brink of something good, and perhaps they are saving their best for last, and their best will be needed to break down the resilient Uruguayans. There were rumours of fractions in the Dutch camp after Robin Van Persie was moaning about being substituted in match. He had a very poor afternoon against Brazil, and him not being on song will not help the Dutch cause any. The key man for Holland is Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder, who floats around linking up the midfield and attack. It was his two goals which caused the downfall of Brazil, and Uruguay simply have to find a way to keep him quite. They do that, and they will be giving themselves a huge boost.

At the back Holland lost their main centre half Joris Mathijsen just before kick off, and the aging legs of Andre Ooijer had to step in. The Dutch were not, in any way shape or form convincing against Brazil at the back, and Uruguay will fancy their chances there, especially from dead ball situations. The best way for Uruguay to get through Holland will be going down the middle of the park, where the South Americans will be able to out work, out battle and out tackle the European side. There is not a great deal of toughness in the middle for Holland, with Mark Van Bommel being the main man who holds things together. Quite how he was on the pitch at the end of the match against Brazil is quite a mystery, as he was guilty of some very blatant fouls. He was quite reckless, and if the craft and speed of Forlan can get the better of him, then the South Americans will be in with quite a good chance of winning this one. For Holland, this will now represent their best opportunity to win the World Cup in their history. They will believe that they are facing the weakest team left in the competition, and their place in the final should be already booked. This is something else which could work against their favour, underestimating the technical capabilities of the Uruguayans. Holland need to show a lot more conviction, and a lot more creativity than they have done in the tournament so far, in order to break down Uruguay. They have the talent, but do they have the team to rise again and get the job done without being over complacent?

Netherlands Team News: Gergory Van Der Wiel, Nigel De Jong (suspended). Robin Van Persie, Joris Mathijsen (injury doubts).

Holland v Uruguay World Cup Betting Prediction: Uruguay could again edge this one, adding another upset to the list of unexpected results for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Uruguay +0.75 Asian Handicap for 41/40 at Bet365
 

Betting Guide to Uruguay

The last time that Uruguay were in the semi finals of the World Cup was forty years ago, and not since 1950 when they beat Brazil in the final, have they been within a whisker of glory. Uruguay have won the World Cup twice in their history, but they were soon left behind as the game developed more, with Brazil and Argentina rising to power from South America. Uruguay have been perhaps the surprise team of the tournament so far, winning Group A and pushing on through to the quarter finals. Uruguay have a lot of historical background on their shoulders and for the first time in decades, they are actually looking to embrace their rich football history instead of being overwhelmed by it. They are coached by El Maestro, Oscar Tabarez, who sets up a very disciplined side that is very typical of the South American sides. South Americans use the ball well when in possession, but as not everyone can play like Brazil or Argentina, Uruguay rely on their physical strength and defensive organisational skills. They still have the crisp passing and inventive movement off the ball of South American teams, they are just more cautious in their approach, as they have not got the overall ability to match the Brazils of this world. This, in no way, is detrimental to Uruguay, who have sort of found their niche in play an organised system.

While the style of Uruguay has not had the overall flair of any of the other South Americans, they have attracted more and more interest because of how economical and efficient they are. They know that they have the firepower to go and get goals, but they do not play an offensive game. They sit back and wait for the opposition to be too adventurous going forward, and then strike themselves on the counter attack. While that is the main game plan which has been in operation during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, there have been periods when Uruguay have been a little more adventurous going forward, and they stroke the ball around like any other team from their continent. They have an extra gear into which they can kick, if they really need to, but unless they have to, then they are not going to throw caution to the wind. This is the strategy which has helped them counter teams which are faster than them, and who like to play the ball in the middle of the park. Uruguay have been very disciplined in not giving away many fouls, but their tackling and closing down in midfield is highly impressive. They are a hard working team, and if spirit and work ethic alone could get you to the World Cup final, then they would be there. They have been an oddly negative breath of fresh air in the tournament, and have won their fans. If they do need to chase games, then they could really show their glittering attacking skills, after Tabarez admitted that his team have not been as adventurous as others. The capability to be so though, is there.

Tactics: The star players are actually in their forwards, even though a lot of their game is based on defence. When you start spreading names like Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez around, you know you have two strikers who can keep good company with some of the world’s elite. There is a third striker on the pitch, Edinson Cavani, who does a tremendous amount of tracking back when the opponents have the ball. As with all South American teams, the key spot in the team goes to their most creative player, and ex Manchester United player Diego Forlan holds that precious number 10 shirt. He doesn’t play as an out and out striker, leaving those roles for Suarez and Cavani, but Forlan drops in behind them and pulls a lot of the strings. If he does wander up top with Suarez, then you may see Cavani holding back for example. This is because there are three midfielders behind them anyway, with the incredibly consistent Diego Perez the defensive midfielder. With two players either side of him, Uruguay make things difficult for teams who want to go through them. They force opposition wide to snuffle out attacks.
 
Coach: Oscar Tabarez - a very experienced man, who, like any international manager has had his critics. Main points of concerns about him, is that he is not a very inspirational leader, and has tinkered with tactics a few too many times, making the side unsettled. There haven’t been any signs of that though, and that same criticism could be levelled at Argentina’s Maradona, and look what he is doing. His style is not expansive, but he does work with what he has got and gets the best out of them. He isn’t scared of changing tactics during a match, and he will adapt as he goes along to situations

Uruguay World Cup 2010 Stats

Results
Uruguay 2, South Korea 1
Uruguay 1, Mexico 0
Uruguay 1, South Africa 0
Uruguay 0, France 0

Goals: 6 For, 1 Against
Cards: Y3, SY1, R0
Top Passer: Diego Forlan (188 passes, 58% completion rate)
Most Fouls: Luis Suarez, 8

Last 10 Match Uruguay Form:  WLWDWWDWWW

Probable Route to Winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup: Ghana (Q/F), Brazil (S/F), Spain (F)

Uruguay Betting Tips

Stage of Elimination
Quarter Finals: 13/8 at SkyBet
Semi Finals: 5/6 at SportingBet
Winners: 11/2 at Bet365
Runners Up: 7/1 at Coral

Uruguay’s Top Goal scorer
Luis Suarez 1/5 at SkyBet (3 goals)
Diego Forlan 4/1 at Ladbrokes (2 goals)

Uruguay Betting Tip: Uruguay 11/10 at Bet365 to beat Ghana in Quarter Finals

Uruguay v Ghana Betting Odds

Uruguay to win – 11/10 at Bet365
Draw – 9/4 at SkyBet
Ghana to win – 16/5 at Ladbrokes

Uruguay

The South Americans are one of four teams from the continent left in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Will it be two all-South American semi finals? It’s a little unlikely, but Uruguay themselves will have a lot of belief that they will be one of them. Uruguay’s early World Cup history is rich in success, winning the world’s premier football tournament twice in their history. Since then they have always seemed to live in their shadow of their former successes, and coming into the tournament, there looked to be nothing different as they were the final team to secure their place at South Africa 2010. After coming out on top of Group A against France, Mexico and South Africa with three wins out of three, Uruguay moved to the Quarter Finals after beating South Korea 2-1 in the semi finals. There has been criticism levelled at the South Americans about the fact that they are a bit negative in their approach to their game. But where Portugal have shown the bad side of negative play in the tournament, Uruguay are showing the positive sides, as they have hit six goals in their four matches, with Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez firing the South Americans forward. What Uruguay do very well is keep a narrow formation in the centre of the pitch, and that pushes teams wide, which then means that Uruguay soak up the pressure well when crosses come in. The other side of their 4-3-3 formation, with Forlan, Suarez and Edinson Cavani making up a three pronged attack, is they have a lot of power in breaking forward.

The forwards do drop back and help out in tightening up the midfield, and that makes them a hard team to play through. What Uruguay seem to do is sit back and wait for their chances. While the are happy in soaking up pressure, while they are happy to concede possession to their opponents, they find a lot of strength in it, simply because they are so strong in attack. Uruguay also have a lot of composure in their team which means that they do not panic. They have no apparent problem in flicking the switch and moving up a gear if they find themselves in trouble. They have not come under a lot of pressure at the back to be honest, and are yet to fall behind in the match. In their last sixteen match against South Korea though, they found an extra gear once the Asian nation had equalised, which allowed them to push on and find the winning goal. That came from having three forwards on the pitch at all times, even if they do not all work in forward positions all of the time. Uruguay have a great work ethic and visibly fight for their team’s cause on the pitch. This gives them a lot of strength, and naturally coming from South America, they are tough tacklers when needs must. They are one of the surprise teams of the tournament, but do not be surprised to take another step forward into the semi finals. While they have not been a flowing or exciting team to watch, they have their qualities which have made them very interesting to follow. They will have been fantastically happy with their draw and now they need to make the most of it.

Ghana

All of Africa’s 2010 FIFA World Cup hopes rest on the shoulders of Ghana. Ghana will be hoping that the South African fans get behind them, and help them to make history by becoming the first African team to make it to the semi finals of the World Cup. They have made it this far with a certain degree of style, without having ever put a side really to the sword. They rode their luck in their opening group match against Serbia, failed to press home a man advantage against Australia, and then lost to Germany in their final group match. Ghana have played well though, and actually gave Germany a good run for their money. Because of the young side they have, they are able to play the game at pace, which troubles most opposition. They are quite proficient in getting down the flanks as they run with more of a general 4-4-2 formation, and that is exactly what will be required against Uruguay. Their opponents will not leave a great deal of space in the middle of the park, and area where Ghana like to knock the ball around, so getting some width into their game will be all important. They are bold and brave side and can exploit even the smallest of spaces because of their speed. Perhaps their finishing is the only thing which lets them down.

Coach Milovan Rajevac does has some selection problems with some of his defensive corps, as Samuel Inkoom and John Mensah are on the injury table. That’s not great news as Jonathan Mensah is suspended for the match, along with midfielder Andrew Ayew. Forward Kevin Prince Boateng is also struggling for fitness and is a serious doubt because of a hamstring problem, while star striker for the Black Stars, Asamoah Gyan is probably going to be fit after picking up a knock on his ankle during training. Inexperienced, yes? Youthful, yes? Overwhelmed? No. Fortunately they have a strong hand guiding them, and this is a young team which reached the finals of the African Cup of Nations at the start of the year. Ghana’s youth system both produce and find a lot of talent, which apparently can make the step up to the top level of world football without too much hassle. They are now the great hope of Africa, and they too will know that this is a great opportunity for them to make history. They will look at the other three quarter finals and see tough, high pedigree teams in there, and when they turn and see Uruguay, they will be respectful, but confident. Inflated confidence does not appear to be too much of an issue for Ghana, not with Rajevac in charge. Gyan is the fulcrum of the team in attack, and again it will fall on his shoulders. Do they have the patience to break down what is a tough, dogged and very well disciplined Uruguayan defence. The longer the game goes on in parity, the more they may get edgy and make a mistake. Ghana were also taken through extra time by the USA, will that count against them as they take on the fit South Americans?

Uruguay v Ghana Betting Prediction: Uruguay to win by 1 goal 11/4 at Bet365
 

Current Uruguay v Ghana Odds:

Uruguay v South Korea Betting Odds

Port Elizabeth Stadium, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth
Kick Off: 15:00 GMT

Uruguay - 10/11 at Bet365
Draw – 5/2 at Victor Chandler
South Korea – 7/2 at Ladbrokes

Uruguay

World Cup Second Round: With the South American nations doing so well at the World Cup, Uruguay, who won Group A without conceding a goal, look strong contenders to push on through to 2010 FIFA World Cup Quarter Finals. After looking a strong side in all aspects of their game in Group A, they will fancy their chances of progressing as they face Group B runner’s-up South Korea in their second round match. Uruguay’s victory in their final group match, a 1-0 win over Mexico, ensured that they finished first in the group, which meant that they avoid Argentina. They have landed themselves the much easier reward of taking on the unpredictable South Koreans instead. That is the importance of winning your group, and Uruguay will start this match as strong favourites. After putting in a solid defensive effort against France in their first match of South Africa 2010, Uruguay have grown in confidence, pushing three forwards up front, led by two times European top scorer, Diego Forlan. The former Manchester United striker has bagged himself two goals along the way, and he could well be in the running for Golden Boot if Uruguay progress. He has the benefit of playing alongside youngster Luis Suarez and form a dangerous partnership when they have just two up front. This is the versatility of Uruguay, who were the last team to qualify for South Africa 2010, but were the first side to win their group and put their names in the second round.

They look as if they have what it takes to go far, as they look a strong all round team. They really get stuck in in the midfield area, and that disrupts other teams well. They are also good tactically as they can attack quickly or sit back and soak up pressure. Knowing that they can rely on the goal scoring instincts of Forlan and Suarez, they look a comfortable and confident side which can carve out plenty of openings in match when needed to. Coach Oscar Tabarez has to take a lot of credit for the development of Uruguay as a team, as they work together and fight hard. They negated the pace of Mexico quite well, completely taking the sting out of the main weapon that the Central American’s had. They will again face quite a speedy team as they take on South Korea, but with Korea only picking up one win, and shipping a lot of goals in the progress, the tighter unit of the Uruguayans already look strong favourites. The Uruguayans netted four times in the three group matches, with Forlan leading the way with two, and are ranking well up there on the list of teams having the most attempts at goal. While there were concerns over their temperament, they have conceded very few fouls in the tournament, far less than England, but their passing success rate and passing count have not been high at all. This means they are composed in what they are doing, which is letting the opponents have the ball, and then breaking quickly, so that makes them a threat. They just hinted at being a dark horse, simply because they had a relatively easy group, and by winning it and landing a good second round draw against South Korea, they should be kept an eye on.

South Korea

Coach Huh Jung-Moo is not settling for anything. He is demanding and expecting that his team reach the semi finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It is only the second time in eight World Cup appearances that South Korea have made it to the second round, and with a mixed bag of results in their group, there is an air of unpredictability about them which makes them quite a dangerous side. After opening their campaign with quite a comfortable victory over the defensive Greeks, the South Koreans were on the bruising end of a 4-1 result against Argentina. In their last match, just holding onto second place by goal difference, Korea found themselves in a tougher battle than they expected against Nigeria, which played out to a 2-2 draw. The South Koreans are wobbly at the back, but at the same time know where the opposition goal lies. The coach will need to tighten them up at the back somehow if they are to get past Uruguay, as the South Americans have the technical ability to expose any kind of weaknesses back there. With Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung running things for South Korea, they are quite an entertaining side to watch, one way or the other.

It is unlikely that they will have the overall solid game to beat Uruguay, but they will be adventurous in attack and they need to be. But they also need to be aware of the counter attacking threat which Uruguay possess, and that means South Korea will need to step up their concentration levels, not only in defence, but in the midfield area as well, doing a better job of keeping hold of the ball. South Korea, who came into the tournament in pretty sharp form, have found the back of the net 5 times in their three matches so far, but at the same time they have conceded six. Compare that to Uruguay’s three clean sheets and you can see the way this second round match is expected to go. The Koreans have been enterprising enough to be third in the chart of attempts on goal, with 47 efforts. However, one of their downfalls has been in ball retention as they have completed only 68% of their passes, which actually is a bit higher than Uruguay, but the South American play a much stronger game at the back and then break forward. Expect lots of energy from South Korea, and they should create chances. Their best chance of success will probably be in their adventure in attacking.

World Cup Second Round Betting Tip: Diego Forlan Anytime Scorer – 6/4 at Paddy Power
 

Current Uruguay V South Korea Odds:

World Cup Betting Group A Odds

Tuesday will see the first group settled, and the first places booked in the second round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. There seems little doubt as to which two teams it will be going through, but in what order remains to be seen. Uruguay top Group A on goal difference over Mexico, and those two go up against each other Monday with both sides only needing a win to progress. But both teams will want to push on for the win, as top spot in the group will mean avoiding the in form Argentina in the second round of the tournament. That means there is a lot to play for between the Central and South American teams. But there is another scenario which could happen, and that is seeing France or South Africa scrape in to second place. That would only happen if the Uruguay v Mexico match ends in a heavy win for one of the teams, and it will also need the winner of the France v South Africa match to win well, for goal difference needs to be overcome. Is there another twist in this fascinating World Cup?

Group A Standings
Uruguay: P2, W1, D1, L0, GF3, GA0, Pts 4
Mexico: P2, W1, D1, L0, GF3, GA1, Pts 4
France: P2, W0, D1, L1, GF0, GA2, Pts 1
South Africa: P2, W0, D1, L1, GF 1, GA4, Pts 1

To Win Group A
Uruguay: 2/7 at Bet365
Mexico: 12/5 at Paddy Power

To Qualify From Group A
Uruguay: 1/33 at SkyBet
Mexico: 1/19 at Bwin
France: 14/1 at Ladbrokes
South Africa 33/1 at Blue Square

Match Odds
France to win: 13/10 at BetFred
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
South Africa: 2/1 at Boylesports

Match Odds
Mexico to win: 3/1 at SkyBet
Draw: 4/5 at Bet365
Uruguay to win: 18/5 at SportingBet
 

Mexico

The lively youngsters of the Mexican side, showed against France, just what they are capable of growing into. The central American side finished second behind the USA in the CONCACAF qualification zone, but in many ways have turned in more accomplished performances than the USA. The Mexicans have speed, agility and some very good youngsters in the squad, which have been the product of their youth system. Carlos Vela and Giovani Dos Santos look a very strong partnership up front, and with Manchester United new boy Javier Hernandez floating around as well, there are the potential for goals. One weapon that the Mexicans do have is pace, and they like to move the ball around and get forward when they can. This is probably driven mostly by the youth movement in their side and they are rarely dull to watch. While they have a good backbone of experience to complement the youth, there are questions about how their defence will stand up.

Mexico are always likely to concede goals, and that will, ultimately be their downfall at the World Cup. But for now, they will know that a win will take them to the top of the group, and it will also mean that they avoid Argentina in the second round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. That is a huge prize to play for. A draw against Uruguay would see the Mexicans finish second, and so the impetus in the match, will mostly come from the central Americans to try and gain an advantage. They are not up against an easy side though, as Uruguay look like they can be a menacing side. But Mexico need to stick to their strengths and take their chances where they come. They were guilty of fading away in the second half of their first match against South Africa, but responded well to comfortably beat a misfiring French side in their second fixture. That has left them on four points, level with Uruguay, but behind on goal difference. There is everything to play for in this fixture, and the spirited Mexicans will be ready for a challenge.

Mexico World Cup Betting. If you weigh up the defences on paper, you would back Uruguay’s over Mexico. The Mexicans will have a lot of heart and belief that they can simply take the game to the South Americans and win, and they will be right to play to their strengths. They cannot afford to let the game get dragged down into a stalemate, and must keep up the tempo. Therefore they are worth backing, at the very least a Draw No Bet. The Uruguayans can scrap it out and defend all day long, and they will be happy to soak up pressure. Do the Mexicans have the ability to push on for more than a draw though? It is easier to see Uruguay settling for a draw than Mexico grabbing a win, and odds reflect that. If you are getting behind Mexico, then you may as well just go all out for a win with them.

Mexico World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: P2, W1, D1, L0
GF/GA: 3/1
Cards: Y6, R0
Most Shots: Giovani Dos Santos, 6
Top Scorer: Three players, 1
Shots/On Goal: 26/10
Fouls Committed: 38
Total Passes: 995
Pass Completion: 74%

Uruguay

If Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez is to be listened to, then there is much more to come from Uruguay. The South Americans destroyed South Africa 3-0 in their second Group A fixture, putting them in pole position to take the all important top spot. The winner of the group will likely gain the huge advantage of avoiding Argentina in the second round. That role will fall to the team which ends up in second place in Group A, and that position is being occupied by Mexico at the moment. After a 0-0 draw in their opening fixture, in which Uruguay were criticised a little bit for being defensively negative against France, Tabarez threw three up front to face South Africa, and they clicked in some fashion. The three attackers were Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani and they ran riot over the South African defence. It was a bold move by Tabarez, who could have played it safe again, but he made a tactical call that was just right for the occasion.

Now Tabarez believes that his side will only get stronger. The 3-0 score line against the Bafana Bafana could have been doubled if the Uruguayan strikers had been just a little bit more clinical, but it is hard to knock a team that has just won 3-0. Uruguay look a solid side, and while they are understated in terms of making claims to win the World Cup, they look as if they really can pose a threat. There is a great team ethic running through the squad, a solidarity, Tabarez called it, that will see Uruguay through when tougher matches come along. They also look like a side which will grow in confidence and stature, as, with a little more composure on the ball, with a bit more precision in the final third of the pitch, they could be a real force. By no means are they are complete team, but they look as if they can grow into one. They will know that benefits which come from finishing first. It will mean an easier second round match, and from then on, who knows. First they need to carry momentum by exposing the weaknesses which the Mexican back line have displayed.

Uruguay World Cup Betting. There is little to suggest any reason to be afraid of simply backing them outright in this match. Online bookmakers have the teams fairly evenly matched, but Uruguay have a bit of comfort in knowing that they only need to draw to win the match. They may take it a little bit easier than the Mexicans who need to win to steal top spot, but at the least they should be very good for a draw. They look solid enough at the back to keep out the lively, enthusiastic Mexicans, in what should be a thoroughly entertaining encounter. Any doubts about Uruguay, then a recommendation would be to look for a Draw No Bet option.

Uruguay World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: P2, W1, D1, L0
GF/GA: 3/0
Cards: Y2, R1
Most Shots: Diego Forlan, 10
Top Scorer: Diego Forlan, 2
Shots/On Goal: 26/9
Fouls Committed: 23
Total Passes: 882
Pass Completion: 68%

Mexico v Uruguay Betting Odds

Mexico to win: 3/1 at SkyBet
Draw: 4/5 at Bet365
Uruguay to win: 18/5 at SportingBet

Asian Handicap Betting Advice: Tough to call this one, which the bookmakers have quite close, probably with odds just favouring Mexico for some reason. Really not a great deal of value around, but for a decent price you can get behind Uruguay going on to win the match, even though a draw is more likely.
Uruguay -0.25 for 7/4 at Bet365

Mexico v Uruguay Odds: