2014 WORLD CUP SOCCER

URUGUAY

vs. COSTA RICA

Line:
Uruguay -263, Costa Rica +550, Tie +350
Over/Under: 2.5 Goals (Over +110, Under -140)

Group D play of the 2014 World Cup opens on Saturday afternoon when Costa Rica looks to shock Uruguay.

Here is the BetDSI Sportsbook team preview for Uruguay:

Here is the BetDSI Sportsbook team preview for Costa Rica:

Costa Rica's Levante goalkeeper Keylor Navas enjoyed an immense campaign for the Spanish mid-table club, picking up 16 clean sheets, but the 27-year-old looks certain to be breached when Uruguay take on the un-fancied Central American outfit.

Uruguay may have finished fifth in the fiendishly difficult CONMEBOL qualifying section, but Oscar Tabarez's men claimed a point more from South America’s preliminaries than they did four years ago, when they went on to reach the tournament’s semi-finals. Uruguay's $200m-plus valued forward partnership of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani have gained vast experience since South Africa and will frighten the life out of defenses, while 2010 player of the tournament Diego Forlan remains on hand.

Behind that enviable striking contingent, Tabarez has a strong pool of proven battlers to choose from, such as Diegos Godin and Lugano, and scrappy Benfica right-back Maxi Pereira in defense, plus Serie A stalwarts Alvaro Gonzalez and Walter Gargano in midfield. They combine with some highly-regarded attacking midfielders to suggest that Uruguay will be far too strong for a side ranked 28 places below them in FIFA’s May rankings.

The favorites won six and drew two of eight prior meetings between these nations, although only once did they triumph by a margin greater than one goal. However, this Uruguay team will be targeting Group D’s top spot, so expect Suarez and company to sail past a minus-1.5-goal handicap mark, with the on-fire Liverpool forward tipped to add an opening strike to his record-setting haul for his country. Expect URUGUAY to win Saturday's match by at least two goals.