Uruguay vs Japan Betting Tips: Latest odds, team news, preview and predictions

Uruguay will be aiming to book their place in the Copa America knockout stages when they take on Japan in Porto Alegre on Thursday.

La Celeste ran out emphatic 4-0 winners over Ecuador in their opening match, meaning victory here would ensure a place in Group C's top two with a game to spare.

Latest odds

Having won three of the previous four encounters between this pair, they are 2/11 (1.18) favourites with 888Sport to come out on top at the Arena do Gremio.

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However, Hajime Moriyasu's men recorded a 4-3 victory in the most recent meeting last October, and can be backed at 13/1 (14.00) to pull off another shock win here, or 6/1 (7.00) to earn a draw.

Team news

Matias Vecino has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament after suffering a thigh injury in the opening win over Ecuador.

Eight players made their international debuts in the 4-0 defeat against Chile, although that result could offer the seven remaining uncapped squad members hope of making their bow in a rotated line-up on Thursday.

Preview

With Brazil and Argentina both dropping points already, Oscar Tabarez’s team can rightly consider themselves real outside contenders in what could be an open competition.

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The 4-0 opening win over Ecuador certainly laid down a strong marker, especially as it represented a fourth win in four consecutive matches.

That four-game winning streak has looked particularly convincing considering it has reaped 14 goals scored and none conceded at the other end of the pitch.

Having conceded just once in matches against Brazil and world champions France prior to that winning run, they will certainly back themselves to keep at bay a Samurai Blue team that has failed to score in three of the last five fixtures.

Predictions

All in all, odds of 7/10 (1.70) are well worth backing on Uruguay winning to nil for their fifth match in succession when they take on an inexperienced Japanese outfit.

Uruguay to win to nil at 7/10 (1.70) for a 2.5pt stake with 888Sport 888Sport