Uruguay vs. England: Preview for World Cup 2014 Group D Clash

19 June 2014 08:46

When and Where: The 2014 World Cup Group D match will kick off from the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo.

Brazil's time zone is UTC/GMT -3 (4 PM local time) / 20.00 (BST) / 12:30 AM (IST)

Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain)

England and Uruguay will be out to fight tonight or risk an early flight from the Football’s premier tournament.

Twenty third match of the FIFA World Cup 2014 is going to be held between Uruguay and England. Both teams lost their respective opening matches and will hope to kick start their World Cup campaigns with all three points. Costa Rica are the surprise early pace setters in group D, with Italy right behind them in second place. All eyes are on Wayne Rooney with much speculation about whether he will be picked or moved into his preferred central role. Either way England are more than likely to start with the same team, but this should be an exciting game with a lot riding on it.

Team News:

England go into the game hoping that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be fit enough to at least be on the bench. The Arsenal man sustained a knee injury in the warm-up friendly against Ecuador, after exciting for much of the game. Roy Hodgson has some big decisions to make in his forward positions. Ross Barkley will be hoping that he could get a start.

Uruguay will be without the suspended Maxi Pereira, who was sent off in their opening game against Costa Rica. Jorge Fucile is expected to deputise at right-back. Although it is likely he will play against England- and he claims he is 100 percent fit- it remains to be seen how much of his match fitness Luis Suarez retains having missed a month of action. If not, Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez might be left relying on 35-year old Diego Forlan & hitman Edinson Cavani to deliver the goods against England.

Possible Starting XI:

Uruguay (4-2-3-1): Muslera; Caceres, Lugano*, Godin, Fucile; Gargano, Arevalo; Rodriguez, Forlan, Suárez; Cavani

*major doubt

England (4-2-3-1): Hart; Johnson, Jagielka, Cahill, Baines; Gerrard, Henderson; Welbeck, Rooney, Sterling; Sturridge

Quotes:

Daniel Sturridge (England): “At the end of the day it’s about results, not performances, and we realise that as a team as well.”

“I don’t think we need to change much, we just need a bit of luck, a break, but we will take the positives out of that and the end thing is that we want results.”

Luis Suarez (Uruguay): “I’m 100 per cent, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”

“I knew it would be difficult (to be ready for) the first game, but if the proper time was left then I was going to be 100 per cent afterwards. I’ve done everything I had to do.

I’m training with the team and I feel in good condition. I never lost the joy and the desire. I never thought I would miss the World Cup.”

Stats:

Uruguay hold the upper hand in previous meetings with four wins, three defeats and three draws.

The teams last met in a World Cup in 1966 where they played out a 0-0 draw.

Last Meeting:

2-1 England, International Friendly, March 2006

Prediction:

Despite England’s defeat by Italy, optimism both within the camp and at home, remains high. But as Uruguay also lost their opening game, the pressure is on both sides. Anticipate a highly entertaining affair which can go either way, but expect the Three Lions to roar past Los Charrúas and take a step closer to the “Round of 16”.

Group D is shaping up to be very interesting for the neutrals after all it’s the ‘Group of Death’. Uruguay captain Diego Lugano who will likely miss the game through injury said “It’s life or death on Thursday. We’re up against two of the best in the world now (England and Italy). It’s an enormous challenge.”

Quote of the Week: Wayne Rooney posted this on social media site Facebook after his constant criticism: "Sometimes wonder what the press are getting at. I said from the start I want to do everything I can to make sure I'm ready for these World Cup games and as part of that I was doing extra training a week before the squad joined up. That's exactly what I did yesterday, my own extra training because that's what I wanted to do".

Source: DSG