Italy v Uruguay predictions, betting tips, lineups and free bets (World Cup - Group D - June 24, 2014)

Tuesday, 24 June 2014 14:33
Written by David Bet

Italy and Uruguay will meet in Natal's Estadio das Dunas in a match which will decide who will advance through to the knockout stages of the World Cup on Monday. The bookmakers are having a hard time in separating the two sides in this one. Find below a complete ITALY v URUGUAY betting preview with tips, predictions, best odds, probable line-ups, free bets and no deposit bonuses on the match!

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ITALY v URUGUAY BETTING PREVIEW

Italy have so far showed the good and the bad so far. An opening 2-1 win over England was followed by a disaster against Costa Rica. They looked slow, tired and with a weak defense. Anyway, the Italians have a better goal difference than their Uruguayan counterparts so they need just a draw to go through as Group D runner-up. Italy have only lost three of nineteen previous World Cup matches against South American opposition

De Rossi is out through injury, so Italy's coach Prandelli will revert to a 3-5-2 formation with Darmian and De Sciglio - who is finally fit - on the flanks and the whole defense formed by Juventus' players - Bonucci, Chiellini and Barzagli. Up-front Serie A top scorer Ciro Immobile is expected to help Balotelli.

Uruguay registed an important win against England, defeating the team by a score of 2-1 thanks to an amazing brace by Luis Suarez kicking the Uruguayans off in the 39th minute and finishing it responding to Wayne Rooney in the 85th. Before of that, they lost to Costa Rica by two goals instead of one like Italy did, and that one might make all the difference in the world.

The South Americans will have Maxi Pereira available for selection following his suspension, but Alvaro Pereira may miss out because of concussion. Captain Lugano is also unlikely to feature because of a knee complaint.

These two nations have met on eight previous occasions, with Italy winning the head to head record 3-2. The last time that the two met was at the 2013 Confederations Cup, with Italy winning a penalty shoot out for third place. 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 PROBABLE LINEUPS

Italy (3-5-2): Buffon; Barzagli, Chiellini, Bonucci; Darmian, De Sciglio, Pirlo, Verratti, Marchisio; Immobile, Balotelli.

Uruguay (4-4-2): Muslera; Alavaro Pereira, Gimenez, Godin, Caceres; Maxi Pereira, Gargano, Rodriguez, Arevalo; Suarez, Cavani