Ukraine vs Uruguay
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First of all – it’s internationals weekend so please bet with caution, if at all!
Secondly, I find it hard to write a lot about these games for obvious reasons so you may see shorter previews than normal.
Today’s secondary featured game is the international friendly in Ukraine between Ukraine and Uruguay.
I think it’s fair to observe that the South Americans are the better of these two sides although I’d not often get involved in games between the two sides as they’re both capable outfits. However, despite this game being a friendly, I have interest in it today.
Why? Well, although both sides are missing players, Ukraine’s absentees are more important than Uruguay’s, effectively. Essential defender Chygrynskyi is still absent and so are Rusol and Myhalyk for this game, too, leaving Kucher to do the job on his own. Atypically, experienced Shovkovskyi would be behind them to lend a hand in goal but the word is from Ukraine that youngster Rybka will be in goal, increasing Ukraine’s defensive inexperience. They’re lacking a lot of creativity in midfield with free-kick specialist Aliev, pacey Husyev, and consistent duo Nazarenko and Rotan are both missing. Lastly, star striker Shevchenko is missing today too, which drastically decreases Ukraine’s chances of scoring goals because Milevskiy is inconsistent, Voronin is a battler, and Yarmolenko is too young. This Ukraine side is not well-placed to do well here, in my view.
Forlan is Uruguay’s biggest absentee but lethal duo Suarez and Cavani are here and that’s enough to make any defence shudder with fear right now. Uruguay have plenty of attacking power, even without Alvaro Pereira. Lodeiro is expected to be given a game to continue furthering the winger’s potential following his lengthy lay-off and we all know that Uruguay have plenty of options across the park – Cristian Rodriguez, Gargano etc. Uruguay are missing a couple of defenders in Fucile and Victorino but they’ve got plenty of cover with new Liverpool signing Coates expected to feature for the South Americans. Uruguay’s depth and shape looks much stronger than Ukraine’s does, however, and with their dazzling pace up front, Ukraine should be in for a rough night.
For me, Uruguay losing this game would be a bit of a surprise. Ukraine are lacking in all areas of the field whereas Uruguay do have options throughout their squad and frankly have a better calibre of player so the away win with draw no bet cover looks a good bet to me.
Team news – Ukraine miss Rusol, Shevchenko, Chygrynskyi, Mykhalyk, Rotan, Husyev, Nazarenko, and Aliev whereas Uruguay miss Alvaro Pereira, Forlan, Abreu, Fucile, Victorino, and Arevalo.
Verdict: Uruguay to win with draw no bet at 5/6.
Friday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Lithuania vs Liechtenstein – away win with +1.5 handicap at evens.
Lithuania at 1/5 to beat Liechtenstein? Give me a break!
I watched Lithuania host Armenia lately and I was not impressed, as usual. Lithuania have severely decreased over the past few years and their win against Armenia did not reflect Armenia’s superiority although credit to Lithuania for taking their chances and capitalising on Armenia’s ten-man squad.
Lithuania just aren’t what they were and they’re rather depleted in defence today with captain Stankevicius absent, as are Dedura and Zvirgzdauskas. They rely too heavily on Cesnauskis for creativity and their forwards all bring the same game to the team -big and strong! Danilevicius is the best of their pick up front and his inclusion in the squad gives Lithuania a threat here but the lack of form from Sernas in the Ekstraklasa just makes me wonder why the hosts are so short here.
Liechtenstein have their absences here too, I suppose. Some experienced palyers are out like D’Elia, Vogt, R.Buchel, and R.Beck. However, the three most important players in this team – experienced Frick up front, creative Burgmeier in midfield, and Vaduz goalkeeper Jehle – so Liechtenstein can cause an upset here. Liechtenstein have included Basel youngster Wieser in midfield, FC Zurich midfielder Buchel, and St.Gallen defender Stocklasa to add both potential and experience to the team. Let’s face it – Liechtenstein are improving, little by little. They’d have only lost twice with the +1.5 handicap in their last seven games and both of those were tight 2-0 defeats by the Czech Republic each time. Switzerland and Estonia have both struggled with Liechtenstein lately and today’s visitors won the reversal of this fixture 2-0 so don’t write them off here. For me, there could be value in the away win with a +1.5 handicap today.
Team news – Lithuania miss Stankevicius, Zvirgzdauskas, Kavaliauskas, Poskus, Velicka, Dedura, and Paulauskas whereas Liechtenstein miss D’Elia, Vogt, R.Buchel, R.Beck, Gerster, Christen, and Rohrer.
Georgia vs Latvia – under 2 goals at 6/5.
Georgia look way too short here. I have a great deal of respect and admiration for Ketsbaia’s work in charge of Georgia as the players really fight for him. However, this quality cohesion that they’ve generated is at its most solid at the back, masking Georgia’s problems to score and create chances. This is an unusual game for them as the impetus is on them to attack and they don’t like that; breaking down sides is not something that they do well. Playing against a Latvia side that is very likely to go 4-5-1, I see a good chance of there being very few (if any) goals today, particularly with Latvian starlet Rudnevs absent. Both sides are capable defensive outfits but limited attacking outfits with the reversal of this fixture ending 1-1, another low-scoring game looks likely today.
Team news – Latvia miss Rudnevs and Kolinko.
Accumulator fodder:
Armenia, Croatia, Netherlands, Germany, Ghana, South Korea, China, Australia, Turkey U21, France U21.
Recommended bets:
Uruguay DNB, Netherlands -1.5, and Germany at about 6/5.
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts to prevent endless questions about my thoughts on certain games!
UEFA European Championship Qualifiers:
Israel vs Greece (6) 2-1
Lithuania vs Liechtenstein (4) 1-1
Finland vs Moldova (6) 1-0
Azerbaijan vs Belgium (6) 0-1
Andorra vs Armenia (8) 0-2
Russia vs Republic of Macedonia (5) 2-1
Turkey vs Kazakhstan (7) over 2.5 goals
Georgia vs Latvia (5) 0-0
Malta vs Croatia (8) 0-2
Luxembourg vs Romania (5) 1-2
Belarus vs Bosnia-Herzegovina (6) 0-0
Hungary vs Sweden (7) 0-2
Norway vs Iceland (6) 1-0
Bulgaria vs England (7) 1-2
Netherlands vs San Marino (10) -2.5 handicap
Germany vs Austria (8) over 2.5 goals, at least one red card in this game
Faroe Islands vs Italy (7) 0-1
Slovenia vs Estonia (5) 0-0
Republic of Ireland vs Slovakia (6) 0-0
Northern Ireland vs Serbia (6) 0-0
Wales vs Montenegro (7) 0-0
Cyprus vs Portugal (5) 2-2
Albania vs France (7) 0-1
African Nations Qualifiers:
Ghana vs Swaziland (8) 1-0
Libya vs Mozambique (6) 1-0
World Cup Qualifiers:
Australia vs Thailand (8) 1-0
Japan vs North Korea (7) 1-0
South Korea vs Lebanon (8) -1.5 handicap
Tajikistan vs Uzbekistan (7) 0-2
China vs Singapore (8) -1.5 handicap
Iraq vs Jordan (7) 1-0
Oman vs Saudi Arabia (6) 0-0
United Arab Emirates vs Kuwait (7) 2-1
Iran vs Indonesia (7) over 2.5 goals
Bahrain vs Qatar (7) 0-0
International Friendlies:
Venezuela vs Argentina (6) 1-2
Ukraine vs Uruguay (7) 1-2
Poland vs Mexico (5) 1-1
Spain vs Chile (7) 1-0
Ecuador vs Jamaica (6) 2-1
Peru vs Bolivia (5) 0-0
USA vs Costa Rica (7) 2-1
UEFA European U21 Championship Qualifiers:
Kazakhstan vs Romania (5) 0-0
Belarus vs Bosnia-Herzegovina (7) 1-0
Serbia vs Northern Ireland (6) 2-1
Latvia vs France (8) 0-2
Albania vs Poland (6) 1-2
Cyprus vs Greece (6) 1-2, at least one red card in this game
Liechtenstein vs Turkey (8) over 2.5 goals
Argentinian Primera Division:
Newell’s Old Boys vs Colon de Santa Fe (6) 1-0
Tigre vs Banfield (5) 0-0
San Lorenzo de Almagro vs Belgrano de Cordoba (7) 2-0
Mexican Primera Division:
Tijuana vs Guadalajara (6) 1-1
Jaguares vs Santos Laguna (5) 1-1
Polish Liga 1:
Polonia Bytom vs Olimpia Grudziadz (6)
Enjoy your free betting tips!