After the unexpected defeat against Mexico (1:3), Oscar Tabarez’ team must improve their group standings. To do that and to reach the play-offs they should show their best qualities against Venezuela and Jamaica, who are ranked much lower.
The Uruguayan players can definitely take a lesson from the defeat to Mexico, where they wasted a lot of chances. Even with Luis Suarez out, they are able to show quality football against Venezuela, using the skills of strikers Edinson Cavani and Diego Rolan. So we can expect them to convert their chances to goals.
The two Uruguayan centre-backs, Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez, have had a tough season with Atletico Madrid, endind with a bitter loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League final. Two goals from Mexico on 85 and 93 minutes proved that Tabarez’ defensive line is fatigued after the long season. That’s why we can expect them to concede goals in the second game, too. Going for over 2.5 goals seems reasonable here, and we can also back Uruguay to win and both teams to score.