They'll aim for a win I'm sure. They might give a few players a rest if they win by a few goals tonight, but that'd only mean the players coming in would be eager to impress.
On a scale of 1-10, how likely are Italy going to go for a win against Uruguay...
2 of 2
Assuming Italy beat Costa Rica today...
Italy are still not guaranteed to go through. They could still go out on goal difference if they lose to Uruguay and Costa Rica beat England. Therfore italy would be unlikely to rest all their best players for a match in which they might go out if they lose.
A draw would be good enough for Italy but not for Uruguay if Costa Rica were to beat England. Therefore you wouldn't have a situation where both teams would be playing out a draw like Germany v Austria in 1982.
Uruguay need to play for a win and playing for a draw would be a dangerous plan for Italy.
The biggest danger of any settling IMO would be if England were say 4-0 up against Costa Rica at half time, and a draw would then suit both Uruguay and Italy.
So basically England need to keep Uruguay guessing, let Costa Rica score an early goal and then wait till about 85 minutes before they score 3 back. Simples!
Italy are still not guaranteed to go through. They could still go out on goal difference if they lose to Uruguay and Costa Rica beat England. Therfore italy would be unlikely to rest all their best players for a match in which they might go out if they lose.
A draw would be good enough for Italy but not for Uruguay if Costa Rica were to beat England. Therefore you wouldn't have a situation where both teams would be playing out a draw like Germany v Austria in 1982.
Uruguay need to play for a win and playing for a draw would be a dangerous plan for Italy.
The biggest danger of any settling IMO would be if England were say 4-0 up against Costa Rica at half time, and a draw would then suit both Uruguay and Italy.
So basically England need to keep Uruguay guessing, let Costa Rica score an early goal and then wait till about 85 minutes before they score 3 back. Simples!
You can guarantee the whole drinks industry will be praying for England to sneak through, as otherwise it will mean missing out on another Saturday night football drinking bonanza in the last 16 game.
If Italy win today they won't bust a gut against uruguay as a point will be enough to top the group.
However I don't think England will beat Costa Rica and will finish bottom of the group
However I don't think England will beat Costa Rica and will finish bottom of the group
It's quite funny that we are still contemplating the possibility that we may qualify, Even if we do we are simply not good enough.
To put it into perspective, no team has ever qualified from the group stages after losing their first two matches and the world cup has been going since 1930.
So England would have to be the first team in 84 years to qualify for the second round after losing their first two matches.
Even when Italy won the world cup in 2006 they drew against USA in the group stages and won their other two matches. It's impossible for anyone to predict, but a draw for Italy against Uruguay seems likely. England will probably struggle against Costa Rica and get something like a 2-2 draw.
So England would have to be the first team in 84 years to qualify for the second round after losing their first two matches.
Even when Italy won the world cup in 2006 they drew against USA in the group stages and won their other two matches. It's impossible for anyone to predict, but a draw for Italy against Uruguay seems likely. England will probably struggle against Costa Rica and get something like a 2-2 draw.
2 of 2
