Italy and Uruguay will face off in a big match as the two teams vie for the final qualification spot to the Round of 16 from Group D. The match will be played at the Estadio Das Dunas in Natal on Tuesday, June 24.
With Costa Rica through to the next round and England out already having failed to win any of their matches in the tournament, Italy and Uruguay have everything to play for as the two former world champions look to proceed further at the FIFA World Cup 2014.
While a draw will be enough for the Italians, Uruguay need a win in order to qualify as they are behind on goal difference courtesy of the 3-1 defeat that they suffered against the Costa Ricans in their Cup opener.
With so much at stake, the managers are expected to arrange their teams in accordance with the need of the hour. Cesare Prandelli will undoubtedly call on his most experienced players in the middle of the park on Tuesday with the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio, and Daniele De Rossi almost sure to start the game. Italy will also welcome back their goalkeeper and skipper Gianluigi Buffon at goal.
Prandelli is expected to start with only one striker up top with Mario Balotelli being tipped for the role ahead of the rest. Lorenzo Insigne will start on the bench after missing a string of chances in their last game and so will Antonio Cassano who failed to convert from a glorious through ball from Pirlo in the second half against Costa Rica.
One would expect the Italians to shore up their defence as they play a no risk passing game against Uruguay. However, the Italian defence is not what it used to be and the likes of Georgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli, and Leonardo Bonucci will have to be at their very best to thwart the Uruguayan strikers.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez gave his team a lifeline when he chose to start with Luis Suarez against all odds. The Liverpool striker rescued his team against England as he scored both goals to get the much required win for his side. Edinson Cavani was also at his lively best on the occasion as he supplied an excellent ball for Suarez’s headed opener against England.
Christian Rodriguez also looked in supreme form the other day as he terrorized opposition defenders with his speed and dribbling. The former Atletico Madrid winger could easily have had a goal on another day with the sort of performance he put up against England.
Uruguay have a very compact team who have great strikers who have the ability to penetrate any opposition.
They will be looking to pass the ball ahead while remaining compact at the back. In Diego Godin and Diego Lugano, Uruguay have two center backs who have been playing at the top level in Europe for some time now. Provided that they can remain compact, there is no reason why Uruguay cannot knock Italy out.