2018 World Cup Quarterfinals Betting Preview: Uruguay vs France

Uruguay has been on a defensive clinic so far in this World Cup, but that group will be tested by young star Kylian Mbappe and France in the quarterfinal round. The French are favored at MyBookie Sportsbook soccer odds to advance and face either Brazil or Belgium in the semis. If you want to keep up with everything around the 2018 FIFA World Cup Round of 8, be sure to check our soccer news page on a daily basis, which includes previews, predictions, reviews, and more.

Uruguay vs France 2018 World Cup Quarterfinals Betting Preview

The boys had a spring in their step in training as preparations intensified ahead of Friday’s #WorldCup quarter-final with @Uruguay#URUFRA #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/ceD4ZjQ25q

— French Team (@FrenchTeam) 3 de julio de 2018

• When: Friday, 10 AM ET
• Where: Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
• TV/Stream: Fox Sports 1/Fox Sports Go
• 2018 World Cup Quarterfinals Betting Odds: France -106 / Uruguay +290 / Draw +220 (Total at 2 goals)

Head to Head

• Games Played: 3
• Uruguay Victories: 1
• Uruguay Goals: 2
• France Victories: 0
• France Goals: 1
• Draws: 2

2018 FIFA WORLD CUP ODDS TO REACH FINAL

Why Bet on Uruguay?

• Confederation: CONMEBOL
• Head coach: Óscar Tabárez
• Captain: Diego Godín
• FIFA Ranking: 14
• World Cup Appearances: 13

Uruguay has allowed just one goal in this tournament, coming in their 2-1 Round of 16 win over Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal. Edinson Cavani opened the scoring just seven minutes into the match when he finished off a cross-field one-two with Luis Suarez. Pepe equalized with a 55th-minute header but Cavani hit back with a stylish first-time strike (62) to send Oscar Tabarez’s men through to the last eight for the first time since 2010. Jose Gimenez replaced Sebastian Coates in defense for Uruguay in the only lineup change. Uruguay’s winning goal came from their only shot of any kind in the second half. They had just 30 percent possession after half-time. This is the first time Uruguay have won their opening four games to a World Cup tournament since 1930, with the fourth game in that run being their 4-2 victory over Argentina in the final. Cavani scored his 44th and 45th goals for Uruguay career. A total of 12 of those have been assisted by Suarez. Since 1966, only Grzegorz Lato and Andrzej Szarmach (5 for Poland) and Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose (5 for Germany) have combined for more World Cup goals than Uruguay’s Cavani and Suarez (4). However, Cavani is in question to play against France. He has missed training this week with a calf injury but a muscle tear has been ruled out. The Paris Saint-Germain star suffered a calf injury in his right leg in an off-the-ball incident and was replaced after 74 minutes vs. Portugal. “The player remains in pain. He will continue to do individual work and rehabilitation. His evolution is being monitored,” a federation statement said. “The rest of the squad is fine.” Cavani was replaced by former Middlesbrough striker Cristhian Stuani during the match against Portugal. But Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gomez could provide a more youthful option should Cavani sit. Both men are coming off the back of excellent seasons in Spanish football with Gomez netting 18 times while Stuani hit 21 for Girona.

Projected Line-Up

• 1-F. Muslera
• 22-M. Cáceres
• 3-D. Godín
• 4-G. Varela
• 2-J. Giménez
• 15-M. Vecino
• 10-G. De Arrascaeta
• 8-N. Nández
• 6-R. Bentancur
• 9-L. Suárez
• 21-E. Cavani

Why Bet on France?

• Confederation: UEFA
• Head coach: Didier Deschamps
• Captain: Hugo Lloris
• FIFA Ranking: 7
• World Cup Appearances: 15

Les Bleus will be hoping to beat the South Americans for the first time in the history of the competition. These two sides have met three times previously at the FIFA World Cup. In their first meeting, a group game in 1966, the Celeste won 2-1: the two encounters in more recent times have been 0-0 draws, including the second match of South Africa 2010. France advanced with a wild 4-3 win over Argentina. Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France dumped Lionel Messi and Co. from the tournament. The Paris Saint-Germain teenager won a 13th-minute penalty for Antoine Griezmann with a storming 75-yard run and scored two goals in five minutes (64, 68) after the break. The 19-year-old became the first teenager to score multiple goals in a World Cup tournament since Michael Owen for England in 1998 – and the first to score twice in a World Cup game since Pele netted a double for Brazil against Sweden in 1958. France scored with all four of their shots on target in the match. They had scored three goals from 12 shots on target in the group stages. Jorge Sampaoli sprung a surprise by dropping striker Gonzalo Higuain to the bench and replacing him with midfielder Cristian Pavon. France full-back Djibril Sidibe limped out of training with a possible ankle injury in a setback ahead of their quarterfinal vs. Uruguay. France had already lost full-back Benjamin Mendy for the round-of-16 clash against Argentina because of a small muscle injury. France has reached the quarter-finals in consecutive World Cup tournaments for the first time. Each squad features a pair of players who ply their trade at Spanish club Atletico Madrid. Antoine Griezmann and Lucas Hernandez are the Rojiblancos on the French side, while Uruguay defenders Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin play at the club. Some of the players on both sides will have vivid memories of the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey in 2013, in which France and Uruguay contested the final. After a 0-0 draw, the game went to extra time and penalties: Les Bleus prevailed by 4-1 in the shootout, and the first French penalty was scored by current star Paul Pogba.

Projected Line-Up

• 1-H. Lloris
• 4-R. Varane
• 5-S. Umtiti
• 21-L. Hernández
• 2-B. Pavard
• 6-P. Pogba
• 13-N. Kanté
• 12-C. Tolisso
• 7-A. Griezmann
• 9-O. Giroud
• 10-K. Mbappé

Expert Final Score Prediction

France 1 – Uruguay 1 (France wins in PKs)