[h=2]Buffon a doubt for Italy after picking up a knock on eve of England showdown[/h]
MATT BARLOW IN MANAUS: Gianluigi Buffon gave Italy a late scare in training on Friday night when he twisted an ankle and was unable to complete the session in Manaus
MATT BARLOW IN MANAUS: Gianluigi Buffon gave Italy a late scare in training on Friday night when he twisted an ankle and was unable to complete the session in Manaus
Uruguay -1 -110
Like Chile yesterday supposedly a must win, where URU has to try to run up the score. The chile game also showed, that late goals are not uncommon for teams leading by 1 because the opponent has to open up their defense.
Costa Rica didn't look to good defensively in their prep games and URU, even though they miss Suarez, still looked surprisingly well in their games leading up to this opening match: Defensively they once again looked good, even though their defensive midfield at times appears rather slow and could be exposed by quick passing teams with a good transition game after creating turnovers. It's just that in my opinion CR is quite the opposite, taking too much time to counter attack and therefore should have trouble creating scoring opportunities in this game. Forlan/Cavani played together very well, really good chemistry there and seem to be on the same page. Plus Forlan still is one of the worlds best strikers when it comes to set pieces, so a free kick goal or even corner kicks should be dangerous.
Like Chile yesterday supposedly a must win, where URU has to try to run up the score. The chile game also showed, that late goals are not uncommon for teams leading by 1 because the opponent has to open up their defense.
Costa Rica didn't look to good defensively in their prep games and URU, even though they miss Suarez, still looked surprisingly well in their games leading up to this opening match: Defensively they once again looked good, even though their defensive midfield at times appears rather slow and could be exposed by quick passing teams with a good transition game after creating turnovers. It's just that in my opinion CR is quite the opposite, taking too much time to counter attack and therefore should have trouble creating scoring opportunities in this game. Forlan/Cavani played together very well, really good chemistry there and seem to be on the same page. Plus Forlan still is one of the worlds best strikers when it comes to set pieces, so a free kick goal or even corner kicks should be dangerous.
Doing great, absolutely no reason to complain. How are things with you and in CR in general?
4 week trip to Europe coming up after the world cup, so because of that & hotel prices not really that thrilled about travelling and decided against going to Fortaleza for todays game between URU/CR.
But my gf has family in Porto Alegre, so will be there for the games of NED/AUS and the knockout stage match between the winner of group G (should be POR or GER) and the runner-up of group H.
Also have tickets for the round of last 16 in Belo Horizonte (Brazil vs NED/CHI/SPA) and the semi-finale in Sampa...and if the Dutch were to make it to the final and play Brazil in that game, I guess I wouldn't care about black market prices and go anyways. But probably just the 4 games.
[h=2]Gianluigi Buffon OUT of England game after Italy goalkeeper suffers ankle injury[/h]
Gianluigi Buffon is out of Italy's opening game at the 2014 World Cup after suffering an ankle injury in training on Friday. Juventus goalkeeper Buffon twisted his ankle and was unable to complete the session in Manaus.
[h=2]Oxlade-Chamberlain trains with ball for first time and could return for England against Uruguay[/h]
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave Roy Hodgson a major boost by training with a ball for the first time since tearing his medial knee ligament.
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Gianluigi Buffon is out of Italy's opening game at the 2014 World Cup after suffering an ankle injury in training on Friday. Juventus goalkeeper Buffon twisted his ankle and was unable to complete the session in Manaus.
[h=2]Oxlade-Chamberlain trains with ball for first time and could return for England against Uruguay[/h]
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave Roy Hodgson a major boost by training with a ball for the first time since tearing his medial knee ligament. <center></center>
There were only three games in the 2010WC where the team which scored the opening goal went on to lose the match. There have already been four this year:
Croatia (admittedly dubious)
Spain
Uruguay
Japan
I think a lot of teams are not prepared to deal with these temperatures and lose their legs in the 2H. Japan wilted around the 60-min mark and didn't look like the same team they were in the 1H. That kind of weather is one of a few reasons I think Ecuador +120 pk presents some pretty good value tomorrow morning.
