Uruguay vs Russia
Written off before World Cup 2018 began – and understandably so given their shocking record – Russia are becoming proud of their footballing team once again.
Yet SBOBET football knowledge suggests this will be the first real test for the hosts as they welcome La Celeste to the Samara Arena.
Talking Points
Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, who marked his 100th international cap with the winner against Saudi Arabia, are a very different attacking proposition to the teams Russia faced so far, with full respect to Saudi Arabia and Egypt with a half-fit Mohamed Salah.
However, the pressure is arguably on the South Americans given a draw will see Russia at the top the Group A standings.
In former Real Madrid man Denis Cheryshev and Aleksandr Golovin, they have star men of their own at the forefront of a side which has scored eight goals in its opening two group matches –more than in its previous World Cups combined (six goals in the 2002 and 2014 finals).
With the likelihood the teams will face Portugal and Spain in the next round, the difference between topping the group and finishing second could be considered negligible.
Indeed, one article I read basically agreed and suggested the respective coaches Stanislav Cherchesov and Oscar Tabarez will have to juggle pragmatism and momentum for this one.
The feel-good factor of sweeping the host nation cannot be underestimated, of course, and being on top of your game is not necessarily something you can switch on and off.
Russia are the joint-highest scorers at the tournament so far, along with Belgium, and they will not lose that impetus.
That buoyant, raucous and now-expectant home crowd will sense another night to remember.
Indeed, it is interesting to note Russia have run further than any other team in the finals so far, covering more than 233 kilometres in their opening two matches.
That impressive approach will now face a test against a more resolute defensive side than what they have faced with the likes of Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez in their ranks.
Giant outdoor screens have been constructed in Moscow and, with the home fans seemingly energised, there have even been concerns raised about potential overcrowding in the official FIFA fan zone.
Located on the Sparrow Hills campus of Moscow State University, the zone has become a magnet for Russian fans who can’t get to the matches but want to watch them on giant outdoor TV screens.
It’s fair to say football and World Cup fever has arrived in Russia. Now, for the major question: can it be sustained?
History
Surprisingly these nations have only met once before.
That was in Moscow in a friendly in 2012 when Suarez and Alexander Kerzhakov traded goals within a minute of each other in a 1-1 draw.
Of course, they met plenty of times as the former Soviet Union, with USSR winning six of the seven encounters, including a meeting at the 1962 World Cup.
Uruguay’s sole victory came in the 1970 competition in Mexico in the quarter-finals.
After Suarez marked his century, Fernando Muslera could win his 100th cap for Uruguay in this contest for which he would become the seventh Uruguayan player to reach that landmark.
What are the odds?
Despite the hosts impressing in their first two matches, Uruguay are slight favourites. They are priced 1X2 @ 2.63 with Russia at 2.84 and the draw @ 2.77.
As far as Asian Handicap World Cup 2018 betting is concerned, a tempting bet must be the draw no bet odds of Russia 0.00 @ 2.09 or how about Asian Handicap -0.25 Russia @ 2.47.
There must also be a certain temptation for Asian Handicap -0.25 Uruguay @ 2.25 or Asian Handicap 0.00 Uruguay @ 1.84.
If you expect goals, over 2.25 goals will give you odds of 2.19, while for both sides to be level at half-time before Russia edge through after 90 minutes, there are odds available of Half Time Full Time DH @ 7.00. Worth a punt?
And if you fancy Cheryshev adding to his tally, which already stands at three, – not bad for a player who had not actually scored in his previous 11 internationals – you can get odds on him being the top scorer @ 18.00.
It’s hard to think he actually started the World Cup on the substitutes bench before the luckless Alan Dzagoev sustained a hamstring injury.
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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