Uruguay vs Cape Verde prediction: Can World Cup debutants pull off another shock?

Cape Verde held Spain to a 0-0 draw in their opening game.

We could be set for another compelling encounter in Group H.

You will need no reminding that Cape Verde surprised and delighted the world by claiming a hard-earned goalless draw against Spain last time out.

Uruguay will be much less pleased that they also took a point from their opener against Saudi Arabia, and they will now be desperate to get a win on the board ahead of playing the European champions in their final group game.

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Uruguay vs Cape Verde prediction

Hard Rock Stadium is the venue for this Group H clash (Image credit: Getty Images)

The game is set to kick off at 6pm local time (11pm UK time) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

Spain currently sit top of the group on four points after their 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia earlier on Sunday, with the other three teams all on a single point.

Uruguay could do with a bit of Federico Valverde magic (Image credit: Getty Images)

That means that neither of these two sides can achieve progress to the round of 32 or get eliminated on the basis of the result here.

However, Marcelo Bielsa will expect to see a much better performance from his Uruguay side than they offered in their last game.

The South Americans were listless and unconvincing for much of the game against Saudi Arabia, and went a goal down before finally responding in the final half-hour of the game to rescue a 1-1 draw.

That inability to offer an attacking threat has been an all-too-common theme for Uruguay over the past couple of years - and they could have their work cut out for them again if Cape Verde can offer anything like the kind of spirited resilience they showed against Spain.

We are likely to see another attack-vs-defence showing here, with Cape Verde limited to chances on the counter-attack.

Marcelo Bielsa didn't like what he saw for the majority of his side's draw with Saudi Arabia (Image credit: Getty Images)

That could make it another difficult and frustrating evening's business for Uruguay - but they should have enough quality to get the result over the line.

With goal difference coming into play in the event of finishing level with a team they had drawn with, Uruguay will also take encouragement from the state of Saudi Arabia's goal difference after that heavy defeat earlier in the day. A win is likely to be enough to get them through, and that should focus a few minds.

• Score prediction: Uruguay 2-0 Cape Verde