Uruguay World Cup Betting Preview

Uruguay odds and free bets for 2010 World Cup

Uruguay are a nation steeped in World Cup history. They won the first ever World Cup on home soil back in 1930 and followed that with another win, in Brazil, 20 years later. However, those glory days have long since passed for Uruguay.

The CONMEBOL qualification format differs from the European method in that all the nations are in the same group, with all ten teams playing each other twice. Half of the teams get a shot at the World Cup; the top 4 automatically and the 5th team qualifies for a playoff against a team from North America (CONCACAF). Uruguay finished in that 5th spot (behind Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Argentina) which rewarded them with a playoff opportunity against Costa Rica. Uruguay edged the two-legged tie 2-1 to claim a place in their eleventh World Cup.

Uruguay are slightly underestimated because a lot of their players have had their success outside of the major leagues, whether it be in South America or Eastern Europe. An example of this would be Uruguay’s captain, Diego Lugano, who has had success in Turkey. The undoubted star of the Uruguay team is Diego Forlán who, since a move to Spain, has become recognised as one of the most lethal strikers in Europe, having twice won European Golden Boot. If Uruguay are to be successful in South Africa then Forlán needs to be on top form. He was their leading scorer during qualification, netting 7 goals, but any bet on Forlán to finish as the World Cup’s leading goal scorer is brave. However, if Uruguay were to qualify from their group that would give them at least 4 matches. Considering the top scorer at the 2006 World Cup scored only 5 goals then that makes Forlán just about viable at 80/1.

Group A is one of the most open. Assuming Uruguay will beat hosts South Africa and lose to France, it comes down to a straight fight between Uruguay and Mexico for the 2nd qualification spot.  Both of Uruguay’s World Cup triumphs came south of the equator and this is the first time the tournament has been in the southern hemisphere since Argentina in 1978 and for that reason money on Uruguay to qualify could be well placed. Uruguay are available with odds of 11/10 to qualify or 10/11 not to qualify. This thin line shows how unpredictable the group is. The best odds available are if you look at exact final position. Uruguay to finish 2nd in the group is available with odds of 13/5, to finish 3rd at 11/5 or to finish 4th at 28/13. It all comes down to how well you expect South Africa to play and whether Uruguay can defeat Mexico.

Reccomended bets: Uruguay to finish third in Group A (11/5 with expekt.com)

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