Uruguay v France tips: Will defence or attack prevail?

The World Cup quarter-finals begin with a fascinating clash between Uruguay and France in Nizhny Novgorod.

Only four sides have scored more goals in Russia than Didier Deschamps’ France, while only Brazil can match Uruguay for just one goal conceded.

Our traders fancy Les Blues to prevail. Antoine Griezmann et al are 19/20 favourites to win in 90 minutes. Uruguay are the outsiders are 17/5, with a draw 21/10.

As for who makes the semi-finals, France are 4/9 with the South Americans 13/8.

A defensive combination of Atletico Madrid team-mates Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez are poised to give France a difficult afternoon, though.

A tight contest awaits, and that would be in keeping with a remarkable run of games between these two teams. Of their last five meetings, four finished 0-0 and the other ended 1-0.

So there’s 8/13 about both teams to score – No. Our traders also go odds-on for under 2.5 goals at 4/9. Under 1.5 goals is slightly longer at 29/20.

Neither side are going to want to give anything away early on, and France have been particularly cautious in the early stages. Only two of their seven goals have come in the opening period.

It’s 17/20 for the first-half to be a draw, with 6/5 for no goals in the opening 45 minutes.

Luis Suarez is favourite to break the deadlock, should anyone manage to do so. The Barcelona star is 4/1 to score first, ahead of Griezmann, Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe at 9/2.

Mbappe was sensational against Argentina in the previous round, but the Argies’ lack of discipline in defence is well-noted. Uruguay will be far more organised, and may choose to sit deep, negating the teenager’s rapid pace.

Should this one go beyond the 90 minutes, and it may well do so, there’s 8/1 for France to win in extra-time and 14/1 for Uruguay. The teams are 8/1 apiece to win it on penalties.

Click here for all our Uruguay v France odds.

All Odds and Markets correct as of date of publication