Uruguay vs Cape Verde Prediction: New-kid Creoles can’t keep upsetting the odds

Uruguay will look to succeed where Spain failed when they face Cape Verde on Sunday in Group H of the World Cup at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (6pm local, 11pm GMT, live on BBC One).

The tournament debutants shocked the globe by holding the European champions to a 0-0 draw first up, and now it’s up to Marcelo Bielsa’s side to break them down. Here are my Uruguay vs Cape Verde predictions, the latest team news and Betfred’s match odds.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get £30 in Sports Free Bets & £20 in Bet Builder Free Bets within 24 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get £30 in Sports Free Bets & £20 in Bet Builder Free Bets within 24 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs Apply.

Team News

Ronald Araujo could be fit to overcome a calf injury, with Sebastian Caceres potentially making way having himself recovered from a head injury to start in the opener against Saudi Arabia.

Matias Vina managed 45 minutes in the opener following a muscle problem, and the hope is that he will be fit to put in a longer shift here.

Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Jose Maria Gimenez will also be given as long as possible to prove their readiness.

World Cup Odds

The Blue Sharks boss Bubista should do very little tinkering after their magnificent point against Spain.

Vozinha was the man of the hour in that opener, and he may well be a busy bee once more on Sunday.

Uruguay vs Cape Verde Odds

The oddsmakers at Betfred are not expecting more of the same here, with Uruguay big 4/9 favourites. That implies a 69.2% probability.

Cape Verde are 15/2 to go even better than they achieved against La Roja, while it’s 3/1 for a second successive draw for each side.

Double Delight & Hat-trick Heaven: Get DOUBLE or TREBLE the odds if your winning First Goalscorer bet scores a second and third.

Handicap +1: Tie +1 @ 11/5

I had Uruguay down for the win by a single goal in their opener.

And while they spent much of the game trailing to Saudi Arabia they very nearly did come away with the 2-1 win I predicted thanks to a late assault.

It would take quite some effort for Cape Verde to again pull a result out of the bag, especially given how much they rode their luck against the Spaniards.

I’m not expecting them to get walloped, since they are likely to once more be solid and structured. But given Uruguay’s history for edging out opponents at World Cups – eight of their last 11 wins have come by a single goal – I see that coming through again.

Federico Vinas 3+ Shots on Target (Sub Switch) @ 16/5

Given Vinas’ ability to find space and willingness to get shots in on goal against the Saudis, I can’t see him not offering a similar edge in game two.

Three of his five shots in that opener found the target, and I fancy him to offer similar against the Creoles.

The Sub Switch facility offered by Betfred gives us the extra boost of our bet running on with Vinas’ replacement if he’s substituted, but we might not even need that if his form continues.

Betfred's Sub Switch offer rolls your bet to the oncoming substitute, so you stay in the game, even when your player doesn’t.