It is sink or swim time for both Uruguay and England as they take each other on at the Arena de Sao Paulo on Thursday. Both teams lost their respective opening matches and will hope to kick start their World Cup campaigns will all three points.

Uruguay go into the match on the back of a shock 3-1 loss to Costa Rica in the absence of Liverpool striker Luis Suarez. As predicted, the match came too early for the EPL highest goal scorer and his country suffered as a result. They struggled to create chances and were completely outplayed by the Joel Campbell-inspired Central Americans. PSG striker Edison Cavani was in the side that faced Costa Rica but the former Napoli man is a player who is adept at finishing chances, not creating them. That is what Uruguay missed. Suarez’s ability to run at opposition, sell them a nutmeg or two and lay on intricate through passes- when he’s not trying to score himself- is what La Celeste need to perform. Forget the controversy that surrounds him, when Suarez plays, he makes a difference.

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For England, the futility for Wayne Rooney continues. The Manchester United striker drew another blank in the 2-1 defeat against Italy and is yet to score a World Cup goal. Granted, he was shunted out to the left wing, but the former Everton man still had one glaring chance which he scuffed. Back home, the debate rages on about dropping Rooney or playing him in his favoured position. England played well, relative to recent performances, but created little in terms of actual goal scoring opportunities. Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling was especially lively in attack, taking the ball past his opponents many times to the delight of the crowd but England still lost.

TEAM NEWS

Although it is likely he will play against England- and he claims he is 100 percent fit- it remains to be seen how much of his match fitness Luis Suarez retains having missed a month of action. If not, Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez might be left relying on 35-year old Diego Forlan to deliver the goods against England. Right back Maxi Pereira is unavailable following his sending off against Costa Rica.

Roy Hodgson faces a massive selection headache for this match. No matter the furore at home, Hodgson is unlikely to drop Rooney. Instead, he might look to play the 28-year old in his favoured No 10 position while shifting Raheem Sterling out to the wing. Daniel Sturridge should keep his place upfront following his goal against Italy and Southampton’s Adam Lallana could start in place of Danny Welbeck.

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Probable Lineups

Uruguay (4-4-2): Muslera; Pereira, Lugano, Godin, Caceras; Stuani, Arevalo, Gargano, Rodrigu; Forlan, Cavani

England (4-2-3-1): Hart; Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines; Gerrard, Henderson; Lallana, Rooney, Sterling; Sturridge

PREDICTION

England will take a lot of positives from their 2-1 loss to Italy and will look to play the same way against the South Americans whose defense is a lot slower than Italy’s. Uruguay, on the other hand, will look to get the ball to Suarez as often as possible- assuming he plays. I anticipate a highly entertaining affair and I think England will edge this match.

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