Group D Preview

Schedule

All times Eastern Daylight Time (UTC -4)

June 14th, 3:00 p.m., Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza
Uruguay vs. Costa Rica

June 14th, 6:00 p.m., Arena Amazonia, Manaus
England vs. Italy

June 19th, 3:00 p.m., Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo
Uruguay vs. England

June 20th, 12:00 p.m., Arena Pernambuco, Recife
Italy vs. Costa Rica

June 24th, 12:00 p.m., Estadio das Dunas, Natal
Italy vs. Uruguay

June 24th, 12:00 p.m., Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte
Costa Rica vs. England

Teams

Costa Rica

 

Bullets

• World Ranking: 28th
• World Cup Appearances: 4 (Last in 2006)
• Best World Cup Finish: Round of 16 (1990)
• Received byes for North America Rounds 1 and 2. Finished 2nd in Round 3:Group B, 8 points behind Mexico to advance to Round 4. Finished 2nd in Round 4, 4 points behind USA to qualify.
• 8-4-4, 27 Goals For and 12 Goals Against in qualifying
• Leading goalscorer in Qualifying: Alvaro Saborio (8)
• 7-7-2, 16 Goals For and 16 Goals Against in last 12 months
• Manager: Jorge Luis Pinto (COL). Pinto previously coached Costa Rica in 2004-2005, and lef Colombia for part of their failed 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign. Pinto's second stint with Costa Rica started in 2011.
• Captain: Bryan Ruiz. Forward, PSV Eindhoven (NED)
• Odds to Win World Cup (via Bodog): 1000/1

Roster

Goalkeepers: Daniel Cambronero (#23, Herediano), Keylor Navas (#1, Levante, ESP), Patrick Pemberton (#18, Alajuelense)

Defenders: Johnny Acosta (#2, Alajuelense), Junior Diaz (#15, Mainz 05, GER), Oscar Duarte (#6, Club Brugge, BEL), Waylon Francis (#12, Columbus Crew, USA), Cristian Gamboa (#16, Rosenborg, NOR), Giancarlo Gonzalez (#3, Columbus Crew, USA), Roy Miller (#19, New York Red Bulls, USA), Heiner Mora (#8, Saprissa), Michael Umana (#4, Saprissa)

Midfielders: Michael Barrantes (#11, Aalesund, NOR), Christian Bolanos (#7, Copenhagen, DEN), Celso Borges (#5, AIK, SWE), Diego Calvo (#20, Valerenga, NOR), Jose Miguel Cubero (#22, Herediano), Esteban Granados (#13, Herediano), Yeltsin Tejeda (#17, Saprissa)

Forwards: Randall Brenes (#14, Cartagines), Joel Campbell (#9, Olympiacos, GRE), Bryan Ruiz (#10, PSV Eindhoven, NED), Marco Urena (#21, Kuban Krasnodar, RUS)

Possible Starting XI



Offence

A tough road out of the group got worse when top scorer in qualifying (and best player) Alvaro Saborio broke his foot last week, requiring surgery. Without Saborio, things are pretty bleak up front for Los Ticos. Expected to play in a 5-4-1 formation, Saborio's replacement up front is expected to be 21 year old Joel Campbell. The youngster is signed with Arsenal in the English Premier League, and is coming off of his best season so far, having scored 8 goals on loan with Olympiacos in Greece. Campbell will be asked to provide much of the offence for Costa Rica himself, in a lineup that typically will have 7 defenders or holding midfielders.

The best source of support offensively will come from captain Bryan Ruiz. Capable of playing both the wing or as a forward, Ruiz will be called upon by Costa Rica to float in the midfield and create time and space with the ball to allow help to push forward. If Costa Rica are desperate in need of a goal, look for Ruiz to slide up front and fill a second striker role with Campbell. If that occurs, expect either one of the wing backs to move in to the midfield for a 4-4-2 formation. Both Miller and Gamboa are capable of playing both wing and defence for Costa Rica.

Defence

Likely where Costa Rica are able to make up for their lack of offence. This formation was very successful for Costa Rica in qualifying, giving up an average of just 3 goals every 4 games. Costa Rica make up for the lack of elite individual talent and offence by being superbly organized on the back end. The 3 centre backs communicate well and generally understand their assignments and can absorb opponents rushes and counter-attacks with great efficacy.

Keylor Navas in goal also bolsters a Costa Rican defence. One of the few players on the team that sees regular time in the big European leagues, Navas led Levante to a 10th place performance in La Liga this year, finishing as one of the top defensive teams in Spain. Costa Rica don't give up too many chances on the back end, and Navas is able to clean up most of the ones that do come at him.

3 Key Players 

Joel Campbell. Talked about him above but Saborio's absence has thrust Campbell in to a key role whether he is ready for it or not. Not necessarily built to be a lone striker, Campbell excels when he gets the ball facing goal. Unfortunately, much of what he'll be asked to do is to play a hold-up role with the ball until support arrives. If he is able to do this then he can get himself in to scoring positions off the ball, and is an excellent finisher when the ball does arrive. Hard to replace a player like Saborio, but Campbell will have to try.

Celso Borges. The most talented of the midfielders in the Costa Rican squad, Borges will anchor the central defence, and is the closest thing Costa Rica have to a box-to-box midfielder. Will primarily have to provide support defensively, but watch for Borges to be the one pushing the ball forward when Costa Rica do attack. Can find players on the wings with great efficiency and is dangerous with the ball in the centre of the field outside the penalty area.

Roy Miller. Expected to start as a wing back, Miller is more than capable of moving in to the midfield if Costa Rica need more attacking options. Miller is one of the few Costa Rican defenders capable of pushing the ball forward successfully from the defence, and will join a rush or a counter-attack if the opportunity arises. Not the most reliable defensively, Miller will also face the challenge of some dangerous opposing players such as Suarez and Lallana, if he does wind up starting at left back.

Other Name to Know

Marco Urena. Has struggled for playing time in Russia and has never been the feature player up front for Costa Rica, but Urena may find himself in a supporting role off the bench if Costa Rica trail in a game. Urena has the potential to get hot offensively for Costa Rica if he gets going in a game. His 7 goals for his country all came in one 5-month span back in 2011.

Overall Impression

England

Bullets

• World Ranking: 10th
• World Cup Appearances: 14 (Last in 2010)
• Best World Cup Finish: Champions (1966)
• Finished 1st, 1 point ahead of Ukraine in Europe Round 1:Group H to qualify.
• 6-0-4, 31 Goals For and 4 Goals Against in qualifying
• Leading goalscorer in Qualifying: Wayne Rooney (7)
• 6-2-3, 21 Goals For and 10 Goals Against in last 12 months
• Manager: Roy Hodgson. Hodgson was named manager for England May 2012, having previously been manager of West Bromwich Albion. Hodgson led Switzerland to a Round of 16 berth in 1994. Hodgson has also managed UAE and Finland amongst several European club teams.
• Captain: Steven Gerrard. Midfielder, Liverpool.
• Odds to Win World Cup (via Bodog): 20/1

Roster

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (#22, Celtic, SCO), Ben Foster (#13, West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (#1, Manchester City)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (#3, Everton), Gary Cahill (#5, Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (#6, Everton), Glen Johnson (#2, Liverpool), Phil Jones (#16, Manchester United), Luke Shaw (#23, Southampton), Chris Smalling (#12, Manchester United)

Midfielders: Ross Barkley (#21, Everton), Steven Gerrard (#4, Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (#14, Liverpool), Adam Lallana (#20, Southampton), Frank Lampard (#8, Chelsea), James Milner (#17, Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (#15, Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (#19, Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (#7, Arsenal)

Forwards: Rickie Lambert (#18, Southampton), Wayne Rooney (#10, Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (#9, Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (#11, Manchester United)

Possible Starting XI

 

Offence

A retooled England offence from past tournaments, bolstered by a new crop of young talent up front. Having often played with a 2-striker set, the emergence of Daniel Sturridge has allowed Roy Hodgson to move Wayne Rooney back in to an attacking midfield role which he is better suited to. Sturridge still has work to do in developing his game, particularly as an aerial threat in the penalty area but has used this season at Liverpool to become one of the better strikers in the world.

Rooney is still the centre of this offence, and being able to play in space behind Sturridge should greatly increase his effectiveness. Rooney excels when he can take the ball on runs and get control of the ball in space. This formation allows him the freedom to do that where he can't as a central forward. Rooney isn't the only name in the midfield for opposing teams to worry about though. England have one of the top benches going to Brazil, with young stars like Raheem Sterling, Adam Lallana, Ross Barkley and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; all of whom can provide offensive explosion and tremendous pace. England isn't a team that is built to run with most opponents, but those youngsters will provide a great burst in the second half that opponents have to be wary of.

Defence






Loaded with offensive depth, England is a team that is one injury or suspension away from possible doom on the back end. The starting four is locked in if healthy with Baines, Johnson, Cahill and Jagielka. In a bit of a surprise move, England is only bringing 3 subs on defence. Manchester United pair Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are joined by 18 year old Luke Shaw. This trio played together against Ecuador in a friendly and looked completely lost on the field. Shaw has the best promise of the 3, but is a left back only so he will only be backing up Baines. Simply put, if any of these 3 have to make an extended appearance in a match, it won't be a positive for England.

The other big concern for this defence is their ability to handle the pace that Uruguay in particular will bring to the game. Too often, England allow free runs through their lines and struggle to recover their formation once they break down. Joe Hart backstops this team and while one of the top goalkeepers in the world when on form, he has struggled this season with inconsistency for Manchester City. Last key in the defence is captain Steven Gerrard. At 34, Gerrard can no longer run with opponents the way he used to but is comfortable in his role in the defensive midfield hanging back to support the defence.

3 Key Players 

Wayne Rooney. Much-maligned by fans and media alike (for whatever reason), Rooney remains the top player for this England squad. Has never really performed to his full potential for England, in part due to being pigeon-holed in to a role that doesn't suit his game overly well. Have said for years that Rooney is not a forward, and needs to be in the attacking midfield to maximize his efficiency. It appears Roy Hodgson will do just that in Brazil which makes Rooney the offensive key. Rooney will be afforded more space then he has had before, but will also be called on to direct much of the offensive action.

Jordan Henderson/Jack Wilshere. Not yet known which will start for England, but one of these two should lineup in the centre of the midfield next to Steven Gerrard. Gerrard will be covering the holding midfield and Rooney is an attacker by trade, so whoever joins those 3 in the centre of the field will have to do a bit of everything. Wilshere is more of the offensive player while Henderson is more of a holding midfielder and while both will be called on to do things they aren't typically used to, whoever starts should tip England's overall strategy for the game in question.

Raheem Sterling. Could start on the wing in place of either Welbeck or Lallana, Sterling is expected to see time in almost all games as a substitute at the very least. The tiny winger is only 19 years old, and brings an element of speed and creativity in the midfield that England typically lack as a whole. Sterling can play all over the attacking zone, and his speed will frustrate every full back that has to go up against him. England will be counting on their young players for goals in this tournament, and Sterling may end up being one of the top playmakers on this team, even if coming off the bench.

Other Name to Know

Ross Barkley. Another young bench player for England, Barkley brings many of the same qualities to the game that Sterling does but in a central midfield role. Sterling is sure to see time, but Barkley's defence is still a work in progress and may keep him glued to the bench in Brazil. Watch for fireworks if Barkley does enter the game though, as he is one of the most exciting players in the English Premier League.

Overall Impression

It's a funny thing this tournament. England is probably the most scrutinized team in the world and are constantly criticized as being underachievers or overrated. This tournament, the expectations are off, what with a young team and considered 3rd-best in their group. And yet they might have the best team that they've had in the past decade here...

Their defence concerns me. The starting four have plenty of experience but mental lapses and can haunt them. And I just don't trust anyone on their bench in the back line to be able to go up against world-class opponents on this stage. Their speed off the bench and counter-attacking play will allow them to challenge in this group, but I think the back line will be their downfall, if not at this point then in the knockout round.

 Italy

Bullets

• World Ranking: 9th
• World Cup Appearances: 18 (Last in 2010)
• Best World Cup Finish: Champions (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)
• Finished 1st, 6 points ahead of Denmark in Europe Round 1: Group B to qualify.
• 6-0-4, 19 Goals For and 9 Goals Against in qualifying
• Leading goalscorer in Qualifying: Mario Balotelli (5)
• 5-3-9, 28 Goals For and 24 Goals Against in last 12 months
• Manager: Cesare Prandelli. Appointed Italy manager in May 2010, this is Prandelli's 1st national team job. He spent the 5 prior seasons as manager at Fiorentina. Led Italy to a 2nd place finish at Euro 2012 and a 3rd place finish in the 2013 Confederations Cup.
• Captain: Gianluigi Buffon. Goalkeeper, Juventus.
• Odds to Win World Cup (via Bodog): 22/1

Roster

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (#1, Juventus), Mattia Perin (#13, Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (#12, Paris Saint-Germain, FRA)

Defenders: Ignazio Abate (#7, Milan), Andrea Barzagli (#15, Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (#19, Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (#3, Juventus), Matteo Darmian (#4, Torino), Mattia De Sciglio (#2, Milan), Gabriel Paletta (#20, Parma)

Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (#14, Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (#6, Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (#16, Roma), Claudio Marchisio (#8, Juventus), Thiago Motta (#5, Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), Marco Parolo (#18, Parma), Andrea Pirlo (#21, Juventus), Marco Verratti (#23, Paris Saint-Germain, FRA)

Forwards: Mario Balotelli (#9, Milan), Antonio Cassano (#10, Parma), Alessio Cerci (#11, Torino), Ciro Immobile (#17, Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (#22, Napoli)

Possible Starting XI

 

Offence

Very much a work in progress, both in terms of personnel and formation. A pair of draws in their tuneup games have left Cesare Prandelli with more questions then answers up front which is never a good sign before a world cup. The above formation was what Italy used yesterday against Luxembourg, but would not be surprised to see the addition of a pair of strikers on the wing, as opposed to 5 midfielders.

A few things are certain. Mario Balotelli will be the go-to man up front. The athletic, and often bizarre Balotelli is a threat whenever he touches the ball, and can score in all manner of ways. The midfield should be partly sorted out with Juventus teammates Claudio Marchisio and Andrea Pirlo leading the way. Pirlo in particular is always a catalyst in the attack. His passing and cross abilities are elite in the world, as his free kick ability. Whoever the starters are, Italy prides itself on having a wealth of box-to-box midfielders in their squad, and those personnel that can do everything for Italy make them a tough team to defend. Italy are comfortable attacking the wings or the centre of the field, and any number of players can step up and be the hero.

Defence

Italy has enormous experience on their back line, and are led by Barzagli and Chiellini in the centre. The pairing play their club soccer together at Juventus (along with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon), and the experience those three possess in both appearances and playing together year-round creates the heart of a stingy defence. Another pair of teammates form the fullback pairing, with Milan's Abate and De Sciglio expected to start. Not as experienced as the other two, they are both defensively sound and can push forward in attack.

A few players would challenge the title but the top player in the squad is still defensive midfielder Daniele De Rossi. Playing as a central defender before, De Rossi is able to push forward in support of attack, but acts as a 3rd central defender when the opponents push forward. De Rossi does everything for this Italy team and his ability to harass and take on defenders all over the field is critical in support of this Italian defence.

3 Key Players 

Mario Balotelli. You can use any number of words to describe the Italian striker's personality, but there's no denying his incredible talent on the field. His combination of size, power and speed make Balotelli very tough for defenders to handle, especially in possession of the ball. With a lot of inexperience at the forward position, Italy will need Balotelli on the field and on form as their primary source of goals. As is usually the case with Balotelli, that means the mental lapses and immaturity that have plagued his career need to be put on hold for a month.

Andrea Pirlo. Likely his last major tournament (at least as a contributor), Pirlo at 35 is still one of the top creators of scoring opportunities in the world. His passing abilities, both short and long are unrivalled in the world and his vision in being able to find players all over the field is a huge benefit to this Italian side. May find himself moved all over the field between and during games, as he is not known for his defensive abilities and is often hidden on the field away from the likely scoring threats.

Mattia De Sciglio. The newcomer in the defence at 21, De Sciglio has become a regular in the first squad at Milan. His skills will surely be tested in this group though. Figuring to challenge England and Uruguay for the 2 knockout round spots, De Sciglio will find himself on the pitch opposite speedy creators like Lallana/Sterling for England, and against best player in the group Luis Suarez for Uruguay. There aren't many holes in this Italian defensive unit, but De Sciglio's inexperience and some tough matchups will put the young back to the test.

Other Name to Know

Ciro Immobile. Unknown in world soccer a year ago, Immobile shined for Torino in Serie A this season, and his 22 goals in 33 games were good enough for him to be included in this squad. May never see the field, but very few players in the World Cup have made the kind of rise Immobile has this year. His (and Torino's) reward: a move to top club Borussia Dortmund next season, for 7-8 times what Torino paid to acquire him.

Overall Impression

Looked uninspired in their first 2 tuneup games, missing prospective starters Montolivo and Rossi to injury, and don't seem close to figuring out what works in the midfield. This is a very tough group to have so many uncertainties and problems this close to the tournament. That said, Italy can put it together very quickly, and are a top ten team in the world when they do. Genuinely curious to see what they can do. Can top the group with 3 wins or they may bomb out like they did in 2010. Don't think we'll have a glimpse of which it is until they open against England next weekend.

Uruguay

Bullets

• World Ranking: 7th
• World Cup Appearances: 12 (Last in 2010)
• Best World Cup Finish: Champions (1930, 1950)
• Finished 5th, 7 points behind Argentina in South America to advance to intercontinental playoff. Defeated Jordan 5-0 in intercontinental playoff to qualify.
• 8-5-5, 30 Goals For and 25 Goals Against in qualifying
• Leading goalscorer in Qualifying: Luis Suarez (11)
• 11-3-3, 36 Goals For and 14 Goals Against in last 12 months
• Manager: Oscar Tabarez. One of the longest coaching tenures in the tournament, Tabarez has managed Uruguay since 2006. Tabarez led Uruguay to a 4th place finish in the 2010 World Cup, as well as a 2011 Copa America championship.
• Captain: Diego Lugano. Defender, West Bromwich Albion (ENG).
• Odds to Win World Cup (via Bodog): 28/1

Roster

Goalkeepers: Rodrigo Munoz (#12, Libertad, PAR), Fernando Muslera (#1, Galatasaray, TUR), Martin Silva (#23, Vasco da Gama, BRA)

Defenders: Martin Caceres (#22, Juventus, ITA), Sebastian Coates (#19, Nacional), Jorge Fucile (#4, FC Porto, POR), Jose Maria Gimenez (#13, Atletico Madrid, ESP), Diego Godin (#3, Atletico Madrid, ESP), Diego Lugano (#2, West Bromwich Albion, ENG), Maxi Pereira (#16, Benfica, POR)

Midfielders: Walter Gargano (#5, Parma, ITA), Alvaro Gonzalez (#20, Lazio, ITA), Nicolas Lodeiro (#14, Botafogo, BRA), Alvaro Pereira (#6, Sao Paulo, BRA), Diego Perez (#15, Bologna, ITA), Gaston Ramirez (#18, Southampton, ENG), Egidio Arevalo Rios (#17, Morelia, MEX), Cristian Rodriguez (#7, Atletico Madrid, ESP)

Forwards: Edinson Cavani (#21, Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), Diego Forlan (#10, Cerezo Osaka, JPN), Abel Hernandez (#8, Palermo, ITA), Christian Stuani (#11, Espanyol, ESP), Luis Suarez (#9, Liverpool, ENG)

Possible Starting XI

 

Offence

Casual fans will remember Suarez for his villainous handball to help eliminate Ghana in the 2010 quarterfinals. If you weren't paying attention since then, you'll have missed Suarez's emergence as a premier striker in the world game. The best player in the group though underwent a knee operation 2 weeks ago to repair some cartilage, and while Uruguay has been tight-lipped about his recovery, it is expected the earliest he might return is Uruguay's second game against England. Suarez is a difference-maker when he is on the field. Uruguay are talented, but Suarez's ability to play all over the field, create and finish opportunities and get in the head of opposing defences makes them a truly elite team.

Regardless if Suarez can go, this is a potentially prolific offence. Edinson Cavani up front is another world-class striker, and while not the technical dribbler Suarez is, he brings an aerial threat to the forward position that Suarez doesn't. Uruguay will adapt their formation if necessary, but their base is a 4-2-2-2 which can be difficult to prepare for.  The wingers will often slide inside and create 3 rows of midfielders in the centre of the field, all of whom have free reign to attack. It's a confusing formation that can widen the field or clog up the centre depending on what Uruguay want to do. The ability to have runs come from everywhere and go both inside and outside forces opposing back lines to be on their toes at all times.

Defence

This is a back line that loves to push forward and help the offence out. Whether or not they should is a different story. Wildly inconsistent in qualifying, this unit completely fell apart during a horrendous stretch of 6 games, surrendering an average of 2.5 goals per game. Individually talented at all positions but often undisciplined in their movement and awareness of the field around them.

Diego Lugano and Diego Godin form the central defence. Experienced together, but not the most physically gifted of pairings in the world, they can be susceptible to quick runs coming off the wings and big strikers such as Balotelli. The full backs bring some speed and passing ability to the equation, but also open themselves up to counter-attack with their aggressive attacking philosophy.

3 Key Players 

Luis Suarez. Of all the teams in the tournament, no one player means more to the teams overall success then Suarez does (save for Cristiano Ronaldo, maybe). Suarez is constantly in the heads of his opponents, both through his on-field play, as well as his arrogance and trash talking. Very few players in the world can dribble with his ability and strike the ball as well as Suarez can. His presence on the field, even if not 100% will completely change the way opponents have to play Uruguay, and at the very least open things up for his teammates.

Edinson Cavani. You wouldn't think a player that scored nearly 100 goals for his club since last World Cup could get lost in the shuffle, but with all the pre-tournament focus on Suarez, Cavani has gone largely under the radar. Even if Suarez can play in Brazil, he won't be at 100%, and Cavani will be the man Uruguay have to turn to pick up the slack. Uruguay typically use a 2-striker system, but expect Cavani to be the target man up front, with his ability to score in the air a huge threat to opposing central defences.

Fernando Muslera. One of the stars for Uruguay in 2010 with 3 clean sheets and a victory over Ghana in penalty kicks. If qualifying is any indication then Muslera should be prepared to be busy in the Uruguayan goal. He was outstanding in 2010 and has been the number one at Galatasaray since. Muslera will be crucial in picking up the slack in the porous Uruguay defence and ensuring they don't need to score 3 or 4 goals every time out in order to win.

Other Name to Know

Diego Forlan. An x-factor if there ever was one. The 35 year old now plays in Japan and has seen his form diminish, but in 2010 tied for the most goals in the World Cup with 5 and until recently was Uruguay's all-time leading goalscorer. Forlan's role hasn't been established as of yet, but he brings many of the same qualities to the game Suarez does. Not in the off-field antics, but in his ability to create space for himself and his teammates. If given any chance on goal, either cutting through the midfield or from a free kick, odds are Forlan will find the back of the net. May not have a prominent role, but will find a way to make an impact in some way for his country.

Overall Impression

If Suarez were healthy, I think Uruguay would really like their chances of winning this group. He isn't though, and all of a sudden things are a little dicey for them. Suarez or not, this is a frightening team in the offensive zone. So many players that can do everything for them and a formation where you never really know what they might do next. Not nearly the same defence that got them to the semifinals in 2010 though. Just don't know if their opponents have enough up front to afford to get in to shootouts with Uruguay.

FINAL THOUGHTS & PREDICTIONS

What amuses more then anything about this group is that when you talk about mindset and stability, it's England of all teams that looks to be coming in the best. Yes, the same England that had 24-hour coverage of David Beckham's foot in 2002 and daily updates on the WAGs on South Africa. World's all messed up...

Costa Rica weren't going to challenge to get out of the group, and losing Saborio just makes things worse. They have some potential as a spoiler though, but I'd be stunned if they came out of this group with more than a point.

England/Italy is a marquee matchup that is ruined by having to play in a stadium in the middle of the rainforest. Impossible to predict anything in the conditions. I think on a neutral field it would be close regardless. A lot is dependent on Suarez's condition, but I think Uruguay are too dynamic on offence for England in that game. Italy's shape on defence is better equipped to deal with the Uruguayans, but I don't know if they can put up the goals required to necessarily beat them. Interesting dynamic between the top 3 teams, with plenty of variables with weather, injuries and form.

Uruguay - 7 pts
Italy - 5 pts
England - 4 pts
Costa Rica - 0 pts