Going into the World Cup unsure if your best player is going to be 100% fit is never the best option, but that’s what Uruguay are looking like at the moment. Luis Suarez is still touch and go after his operation to be fit for the first game, and this could perhaps give Costa Rica a slightly better chance than the odds are giving them. At 8.00, they are a decent shout for an upset if you think the World Cup might be a slow start.
However, at 1.44 Uruguay are still the favourites. Despite still having many of the players that were at the 2010 World Cup without any new stars really breaking through, they are a solid outfit that rely on the sublime ability of Suarez and Cavani up front to hit teams on the break. Costa Rica will likely sit deep, which could reduce the space for the forwards.
The likes of Cristian Rodgriguez, a La Liga winner with Atletico Madrid and teammate Diego Godin are other excellent players in a national side which is unbalanced. If Suarez makes the start of the tournament, then a fast Uruguay start would seem more likely given his potency and overall attitude as a player.
There’s plenty to like about Costa Rica, too. The obvious choice for the most notable player is Bryan Ruiz, who played for Fulham and FC Twente. He spent the second half of the season at Dutch side PSV, and is usually one of the key players for his national side. If he turns up, and Uruguay struggle to find space and dominate the game then Ruiz would be the most likely shout for a Costa Rican goal scorer.
Our tip though is for a comfortable Uruguayan win – 11/5 at 3+ goals @bet365 for Uruguay could be a decent hit, as Costa Rica aren’t the most cohesive at the back and could easily be caught out.
