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World Cup Free Picks – Ghana vs. Uruguay Lines

Matt Martz takes a look at the Round 3 (Quarter Finals) Knockout phase World Cup of soccer 2010 matchup between Uruguay vs. Ghana. Plus check out the winning prediction, and live betting lines…

Ghana vs Uruguay World Cup 2010 Betting Picks + Odds

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Quarterfinals Gambling Predictions

Matchup: Uruguay v Ghana
Date: Friday, July 2, 2010
Time: 2:00 PM EST
Venue: Johannesburg
TV: ESPN (In USA)

World Cup Fixture – Quarter-Final Odds: Uruguay EVEN / Ghana +285 / Draw +220
BET ON Uruguay vs Ghana HERE

One of footballs former superpowers, Uruguay, will be looking to relive its golden years by making it through to its first semifinal appearance since 1970. But standing in their way will be an emerging Ghana who is poised to become the first African side to reach the last four when the two face off in a World Cup quarterfinal match on Friday.

This will be the first full international between the two teams.

The Uruguayans, who have two World Cup wins, in 1930 and 1950, are having their best World Cup run since 1966. With players like Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan in their ranks, fans and critics alike shouldn’t be so surprised at how well the South Americans are performing in this year’s tournament. The pair netted nearly 80 goals between them for their club sides last season, and have brought this form with them to South Africa.

The Uruguayans have conceded just a single goal in four games in South Africa and they are unbeaten in their last six World Cup games, including their last two group matches in 2002, which were both drawn.

Suarez has scored three of the sides six goals including a pair in Uruguay’s 2-1 win over South Korea in the second stage. The Ajax striker is a world-class finisher with remarkable technical ability, and a powerful shot. When paired with a supporting cast of Edison Cavani up front, and Forlan playing just in behind, the trio seem to be unstoppable. Forlan, who scored two goals in the sides win over South Africa, thrives in this role, and Ghana will have to be aware of the threat that lurks just beyond.

With the team gelling in its current form, Coach Oscar Tabarez may be forced to make an untimely line up change as defender Diego Godin could be set to miss out with a quadricep injury. Mauricio Victorino replaced him at half time during the win over the Koreans, and could be set for a starting role next time out. No other changes seem to be necessary, as the squad has stayed relatively healthy and away from foul trouble thus far.

Elsewhere, after losing star midfielder Michael Essien through injury, few would have been wagered their hard-earned money on Ghana to make it to this stage in South Africa. But a vigorous 2-1 extra-time win over the USA in the last 16, has buoyed them in this year’s quarterfinals as only the third African side to reach the last eight of a World Cup, after Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.

With lightning speed and an all out offensive assault–that put the Americans on their heels–his wont be easy for Uruguay. The Black Stars are strong and hard working, and will press the ball at every opportunity.

The key to Ghana’s plan will be the deadly striking duo of Kwadwo Asamoah and Asamoah Gyan, who helped carry the side in the win over the U.S., holding off two defenders and firing the ball keeper Tim Howard for his third goal of the tournament and his seventh for his country in 2010.

The two will be called upon to play a much deeper role however, as Ghana will be without Andre Ayew and Jonathan Mensah who picked up their second yellow cards of the tournament in their last outing.

Influential midfielder Kevin Price Boateng may also be a scratch after leaving with a hamstring strain in the match against the U.S. The Portsmouth man opened the scoring in the USA game, and has been a big part of Ghana’s campaign so far.

Uruguay vs. Ghana Free Pick

This certainly promises to be an interesting game, playing out to be a bout between Forlan and Suarez vs. Asamoah and Gyan. Uruguay is a technical side, whose style is a stark contrast from the raw power and speed of Ghana.

I expect this will take extra time to be decided and could go all the way to a penalty shoot-out with Uruguay coming away victorious.

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Matt Martz is a sportswriter for the Bakersfield Californian located in Central California.