The second match of Group H is practically a "game of a lifetime" for Uruguay: after a 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia, dropping points against debutants Cape Verde could fatally complicate their advancement, especially given their final clash with Spain. The Celeste are winless in their last five matches, but they had 27 shots against the Saudis and ramped up the pressure in the second half. Coach Marcelo Bielsa will rely on a midfield of Valverde, Bentancur, and Ugarte, with Darwin Núñez serving as the main attacking force against one of the tournament's oldest goalkeepers, 40-year-old Vozinha.
Cape Verde made a splash by holding a 0-0 draw against Spain, but that was a first attempt that shouldn't be overstated. The Sharks formed a tight, low block, managing only one shot on target. Now they face a completely different challenge: withstanding not the Spanish tiki-taka pressure, but the straightforward and powerful pressing of Uruguay, who will be attacking from the very first minutes.
Even if the Cape Verdeans show character again, the Uruguayans have the experience and class to break through their opponents' defense in the second half. Considering that Cape Verde is unlikely to keep two consecutive clean sheets against a top opponent, and Uruguay desperately needs three points, a victory for the South American team seems the most logical outcome of this match.
