Written by @Chadley_N for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
Colombia vs Uruguay | Saturday 28 June | Estadio Maracaná, Rio de Janeiro | 22:00
The immaculate Colombians will meet Uruguay, who recovered from a shock defeat to Costa Rica to escape Group D ahead of Italy and England. Colombia have more than lived up to their billing as one of the dark horses of the tournament after dominating Group C. Los Cafeteros (The Coffee Growers) joined the Netherlands as teams with perfect records in the group stage. Uruguay may have escaped the pre-tournament Group of Death, however, they potentially face more evasion after their talisman Luis Suarez bit off more than he could chew against Italy.
To Win (90mins)
Colombia 21/20
Draw 9/4
Uruguay 26/10
Colombia
To go with their perfect record in the group stage, Colombia also scored nine goals and matched the Dutch with a +7 goal difference. It is their first time reaching the last sixteen of the World Cup since 1990. This Colombian side have proven themselves an excellent team and can legitimately dream of going deep into the competition from here. With the pace and skill of Victor Ibarbo and Juan Cuadrado on the wings, and the delicate direction of James Rodriguez in the middle, Colombia have been entertaining, proving themselves better than the celebrated teams of 1994 and 1998 who went out in the group stages.
In the last twelve meetings between these teams, Uruguay have had the edge with six wins to Colombia’s four. However, it must be noted that in Colombia’s last two victories over the Uruguayans they recorded 5-0 and 4-0 wins. After scoring more than forty goals since joining FC Porto in 2012, everyone expected Jackson Martinez to lead the charge for Colombia. However, Teofilo Gutierrez has been coach Jose Pekerman’s choice to spearhead the attack. The Porto star did impress against Japan by netting a brace and put in a case for a starting berth. Despite his impressive showing, Pekerman will likely return with his first-choice striker, Gutierrez, against Uruguay. The River Plate striker scored two goals in Colombia’s 4-0 win over Uruguay in World Cup qualifying back in 2012. Gutierrez also serves as a better foil for the team’s midfield weapons, James Rodriguez and Cuadrado, who also got on the scoresheet against Japan. Defending remains Colombia’s biggest weakness, but their backline will have an infinitely easier time keeping Uruguay out if the dangerous Luis Suarez is suspended as expected. Even if Colombia does let a goal slip by, they’re liable to score a couple more themselves given the way their forwards are performing.
Uruguay
Luis Suarez was mired in another biting controversy as Uruguay skipper Diego Godin sent his country into the last sixteen with a late header to down Italy 1-0 in Group D on Tuesday. For those keeping score, that’s now two wins in the two World Cup games for Uruguay since Suarez’s return from a knee injury. Although Suarez was less effective against Italy than he was when he almost single-handedly sunk England with two goals, a red card to Claudio Marchisio and a Godin goal were enough to see Uruguay through. However, Suarez’s participation in the Round of 16 match with Colombia is in major doubt, not because of his health, but because of his ‘appetite for the game’. Suarez has an unsavory history of biting his opponents and there’s now a very real possibility that FIFA retroactively punishes Suarez with a suspension.
Losing Suarez again would obviously be a huge blow for Uruguay, in part because Diego Forlan hardly looked like the man who was crowned the best player in the 2010 World Cup in his only start against Costa Rica. If Suarez does get suspended, the team’s hopes will fall on the broad shoulders of Edinson Cavani, who, apart from his penalty goal against Costa Rica, has not shined as bright in the tournament. Godin, who was so prolific for Atletico Madrid with six goals this season, should also be a useful goal threat in set pieces against Colombia. However, the central defender will be needed at the back to keep Colombia’s multiple attacking threats at bay.
VERDICT: Colombia 21/20
Colombia have looked an irresistible force in Brazil. Known for their coffee growing, they also have a tendency to cause a stir. With the likes of Cuadrado, Rodriguez and Gutierrez ripping defences apart, Uruguay’s could lay in tatters. While Colombia have a 100% win rate so far, Uruguay have crawled their way into the knockout stages. Uruguay without Suarez will be toothless rather than ruthless and should go down here. Colombia are tipped for the win.
