Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Vegas Play of the Day: Uruguay vs. Colombia

2014 World Cup: The Fans

AP

Colombia soccer fans celebrate their team’s goal against Greece as they watch the World Cup game inside the FIFA Fan Fest area on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, June 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

It may prove my downfall but I’m not going to sit idly by and allow the World Cup to pass without the Play of the Day, which uses odds from South Point and $10,000 starting bankrolls, cashing a single ticket.

So far, we’re 0-1. I’m 0-1. My soccer cluelessness would imply it could get much worse, but I’ll keep trying.

Colombia minus-105 vs. Uruguay in regulation: $420 to win $400

A single injury is typically overvalued, but Luis Suarez is Uruguay’s best player by such a large margin that it’s difficult to imagine its first game without him not having a visible effect.

Even with Suarez, Colombia is the far superior team. An argument can be made that Colombia has been the most impressive squad of the World Cup so far.

The northernmost country in South America won its first two games so thoroughly — 3-0 over Greece and 2-1 against Ivory Coast — that it could rest starters in the final match of the group stage. And Colombia still won, pounding Japan 4-1.

The team is tied for the best goal differential in the World Cup, yet getting little praise for the success.

Colombia might be missing a star of its own — Radamel Falcao —but it’s adjusted through three games without him behind attacking midfielders James Rodriguez and Jackson Martinez.

In the group stage, Costa Rica obliterated Uruguay before the latter bounced back with close victories over England and Italy. That showing can’t compare with the three wins turned in by Colombia. And that was when Uruguay had the luxury of playing its best player.

Standings: Bern (33-24-1, $12,019), Keefer (26-32, $8,074), Brewer (21-30-3, $3,395)

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy