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World Cup 2014 Group D preview: Uruguay v England

| 19.06.2014
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The big, but very unfortunate news, for odds-on pool second-favourites England (10/11 to qualify) is that superstar striker Luis Suarez has been declared fit to play for Uruguay (10/3) in their second Group D encounter.

Liverpool’s 2013/14 season top scorer and La Celeste all-time leading marksman Suarez missed the opening shock defeat to Costa Rica, as he was recovering from minor knee surgery, but is a 9/2 chance to net last in Sao Paulo.

Meanwhile, there is also talk that fellow Premier League forward Wayne Rooney could be on the bench for the Three Lions, after being seen training with the expected substitutes. However, the Manchester United player, who is priced at 15/8 to score anytime, played that down.

“I said from the start I want to do everything I can to make sure I’m ready for these World Cup games,” he said. “That’s exactly what I did, my own extra training because that’s what I wanted to do.”

Both sides lost their first group game, and it is England who go into this head-to-head as favourites for victory at 6/5. Uruguay are 5/2 to win, with a draw more likely at 23/10.

However, Uruguay would have been hurt from that 3-1 defeat in the all-Americas battle, and Hodgson’s men will be facing a wounded animal – quite literally with Suarez.

Two-time World Cup winners La Celeste boast a winning record against England in history, with four wins and three draws in their 10 meeting and. The tiny nation (population of just over 3 million) are also undefeated in their two matches with the Three Lions at World Cups.

Uruguay beat England 4-2 in the quarter-finals in 1954 and, with so much on the line in this match, expect nervy defences and a high scoreline again. That same result in La Celeste’s favour is priced at 125/1. Odds of 16/1 say that the match will produce over 5.5 goals.

England did beat the South Americans in their last outing, though, a 2-1 result thanks to a 90th minute winner by Joe Cole, and they are priced at 17/2 for victory by that scoreline once more.

Daniel Sturridge, a Liverpool teammate of Suarez, certainly seems up for this match, responding to Sunderland boss and former Uruguay international Gus Poyet’s comments that his nation will do anything to win.

“I’m going to do anything in my power to win this game. Just as they are going to do anything. I’m prepared to do anything, and I’m talking anything. I’m being serious. I’m prepared to do anything to win this next game. It’s do or die. It’s a World Cup,” he said.

Sturridge, who was top English scorer in the Premier League this season, netted the equaliser in the 2-1 loss to Italy and got three in his last four international matches, is 6/4 to get a goal anytime again.

In terms of team news, right back Maxi Pereira, who was sent off against Costa Rica, is banned for Uruguay, while England are still waiting on the fitness of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

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Author

Sam Barnard

Sam has been writing for Coral since January 2014, and is the assistant editor of the news site. As well as the main betting sports, football, tennis and cricket, he covers the likes of golf, F1 and darts too, the latter of which has become a particular favourite. Sam enjoys playing as much as writing about sports, but niggling injuries have limited his participation in recent years, so is happy to mainly watch the pros such as Manchester United, Yorkshire CCC, Raymond van Barneveld and even Gibraltar national football team instead.