World Cup 2014 Group D preview: Italy v Uruguay

Strike partner Luis Suarez, meanwhile, made his return from knee surgery with similar exploits against England. He is 4/1 for two goals or more once again here, and 7/2 to be on target first. Suarez is an 18/1 shot to be World Cup top scorer too.

Tabarez could keep faith with the same compact 4-3-1-2 set-up he went with in the Three Lions encounter, and it remains to be seen whether ageing centre back and captain Diego Lugano returns in defence. Maxi Pereira is available again after a ban.

Azzurri boss Prandelli, meanwhile, will be tempted to tinker yet again after the Costa Rica loss. Italy were poor in all areas there, but Mario Balotelli will want to make amends. The fiery forward is 5/4 to score anytime. Daniele De Rossi and playmaker Andrea Pirlo are midfield mainstays, but other places are up for grabs.

Wingers Lorenzo Insigne (7/4 to get a goal) and Alessio Cerci (11/4) may be given the chance to show what they can do again, should La Celeste get their noses in front. Neither nation has yet kept a clean sheet at the Brazil finals, so they are rated equal 12/5 chances to shut the other out.

All impetus should come from Uruguay here, because they need the win to advance. Prandelli may opt for a defensive game, and an alternative set-up for him is three centre halves and wing backs. Odds on an Azzurri win to nil at 19/5 are tempting, if Leonardo Bonucci joins Juventus clubmates Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli in front of Gianluigi Buffon.

Back pragmatic coach Prandelli to pull of another tactical masterstroke, but Tabarez’s team should score, so an Italy win with that occurring is brilliant value at 9/2.