Cape Verde held World Cup heavyweights Spain to a goalless draw in their opening Group H game and will be hoping to put in another inspired performance when they take on Uruguay on Sunday.
Blue Sharks goalkeeper Vozinha, who turned 40 the week before the tournament started, earned a clean sheet and global recognition for his display, repeatedly denying La Roja to help his team put a point on the board in their maiden World Cup game.
Uruguay will be another huge test for Cape Verde as La Celeste will be eager to earn a first win of the tournament after only managing to draw 1-1 with Saudi Arabia in their opening Group H match.
Uruguay v Cape Verde Tips Summary
Best Bet - Under 2.5 goals @ 8/13
Alternative Bet - Uruguay to win to nil @ 1/1
Bet Builder - Both teams to score - No, Federico Valverde 1+ shot on target, Maximiliano Araujo 1+ shot on target, Maximiliano Araujo 1+ fouls won & Vozinha to make 3+ saves @ 5/1
Uruguay v Cape Verde Prediction
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals @ 8/13
Cape Verde showed their defensive capabilities against Spain and now come up against a Uruguay side that have scored two or more goals in just one of their last eight matches.
Gone are the days of Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan leading the attack for La Celeste, who have drawn a blank in games against Mexico, Algeria and Chile this year.
With Marcelo Bielsa's side struggling to score regularly, they may endure a difficult and frustrating 90 minutes if Cape Verde defend as resolutely as they did against Spain.
The Blue Sharks scored three goals in each friendly with Serbia and Bermuda before their World Cup opener but are unlikely to create many opportunities against Uruguay.
Four of the last seven games involving Cape Verde have featured less than three goals and something similar is expected on Sunday, given Uruguay’s recent scoring record.
Alternative Bet: Uruguay to win to nil @ 1/1
While the current Uruguay side aren’t exactly scoring for fun, Bielsa’s side is still hard to beat, suffering only one loss in the last 10 matches.
The South Americans are strong favourites to win although they will need a strong start as Cape Verde have proved they grow in confidence the longer they stop the opposition.
While it remains to be seen whether the Blue Sharks will be a top defensive unit at the World Cup or faced Spain on a bad day, Uruguay should have enough quality in the ranks to take the game to Bubista’s side and earn the three points.
Despite the Blue Sharks’ positive result against Spain, Uruguay can win this while keeping a limited attack at bay.
Uruguay v Cape Verde Bet Builder Tip
- Both teams to score - no
- Federico Valverde 1+ shot on target
- Maximiliano Araujo 1+ shot on target
- Maximiliano Araujo 1+ fouls won
- Vozinha to make 3+ saves
Pays 5/1
If Cape Verde set up as they did against Spain, this could prove to be a cagey and tightly contested affair.
Uruguay may need a moment of magic to break down the Blue Sharks’ defence or hope for an early goal to change the dynamic of the encounter.
With a low-scoring game expected and Cape Verde likely to focus on the defensive element of the match following the success against Spain, at least one clean sheet is more than feasible.
Federico Valverde is a key player for the South Americans and will likely have a big influence at both ends of the pitch.
The Real Madrid midfielder recorded two shots on target against Saudi Arabia and he can notch another on Sunday.
Maximiliano Araujo proved to be a real handful for Saudi Arabia, registering two shots on target, one of which was the equaliser, while also winning three fouls, and he can take the attack to Cape Verde.
Vozinha is the man of the moment for the Blue Wave after repeatedly denying pre-tournament favourites Spain, who recorded eight shots on target last Monday.
He can make at least three more saves with his side expected to be under pressure.
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Key Match Stats
- Uruguay had 27 shots with 10 on target in their 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia
- Against Spain, Cape Verde lost the shot count 27-6 and only had 26% possession
- At 40 years and 12 days old, Vozinha is the oldest player to make his World Cup debut
- Uruguay have managed to score just six goals in their last eight matches
- Uruguay have lost one game in their last 10, losing 5-1 to the USA in a November friendly
- Cape Verde sealed their spot at the World Cup after finishing above Cameroon in qualifying
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
