Uruguay vs. England: Form Guide, Live Stream and Prediction for 2014 World Cup
England's meeting with Uruguay this Thursday could have no greater context of desperation for either side after both teams lost their World Cup openers against Italy and Costa Rica, respectively.
La Celeste sit bottom of the pool after conceding one more goal than the Three Lions, but each team will be eyeing their midweek clash as a chance to add a more positive light to their disappointing beginnings.
Unless Costa Rica have yet more surprise up their sleeves, these two teams still have every chance of qualifying for the round of 16, and you can find all streaming information, form guide and predictions detailed ahead.
TOP NEWS
World Cup 3rd-Place Game Could Be Epic
World Cup Winner Rings 💍
World Cup Final Expert Predictions 🔮
Date: Thursday, June 19
Time: 8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET
Live Stream: ITV Player (UK), ESPN Player (US, subscription required)
Form Guide
Having come into the tournament with a six-match winning run under their belts, Uruguay's World Cup defeat to the Costa Ricans may have been the result of complacency.
In a way, Oscar Tabarez's side were unfortunate to be the first who would take on the team largely looked upon as Group D's minnows, of whom England and Italy will undoubtedly now be far more weary.
England, on the other hand, haven't won any of their last three fixtures, but the 2-1 loss to Italy on Saturday wasn't all about the negative, with Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling and others impressing at times.
The Sun's Steve Brenner says that suspicions of spying and training infiltration are currently affecting Uruguay's preparations:
One of England's chief concerns is of course the return of Luis Suarez, with Sky Sports confirming that the Liverpool striker is fit to play, as well as outlining how he's fared against the English defence in league competition this past season:
England lost 2-0 to Chile back in November, but have since gone unbeaten against South American opponents Peru (3-0) and Ecuador (2-2).
Prediction
As aforementioned, complacency may have been a major attribute in Costa Rica's surprise win over the Uruguayans, but England will have no such luck in being treated as any small outfit this time around.
As they showed at the 2010 World Cup, there are great lengths this Uruguay side will go to in order to win but England's Sturridge tells Sky Sports that he wouldn't replicate Suarez's infamous handball antics to win:
Whether that's for the good or the bad of the Three Lions' campaign, England were handed a far more strategically rigid task in Italy than Uruguay, who will be more malleable and hoping to hit their opposition's flanks.
Wayne Rooney's positioning, if he is indeed included in the squad, will be of major significance not just in an attacking sense, but in terms of the cover he can offer to his full-backs and midfield—should he be fielded more centrally.
Roy Hodgson will be striving to hit Thursday's opposition with the same initiative and forward-thinking play that Costa Rica promoted so fervently last time out, and a win is far from outside England's grasp.
Prediction: Uruguay 1-2 England
