Get more World Cup betting information including betting bonuses, World Cup odds and our famous World Cup picks, which in 2006 earned $100 bettors over ten times their initial investment. ($100 bettors earned $1,820 click here for details)

Oh, just another massively important game for the hosts in the second play of South Africa’s group campaign. But then again, when you’re the host of the FIFA World Cup and no host nation has ever failed to qualify for the knockout stages, expectations and the desire for good results come with the territory. And it doesn’t lessen the impact when you’re the first African nation to stage the tournament in the history of the event either.

At 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 16 is when the hosts take the field to build off their opening draw. Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria is where they can take the next step towards qualifying for the round of 16.

Bafana Bafana’s first match against Mexico really has no barring on this one against the South Americans. Granted, they played well enough to win but perhaps were weak enough on defense to drop the match. So now they aim for another good result in front of their proud fans.

Conversely, Uruguay has to be feeling good about their positioning in Group A. Drawing with France was a good result for them. Now, like South Africa, they have a good chance to advance barring a negative result here.
 
Diego Forlan, the Atletico Madrid hitman, leads the way for the Uruguayans and it is safe to say his form is peaking at the right time, playing his best football of his life. Two goals in the UEFA Cup Final to bring some hardware back to the Spanish capital for his club side and now he’ll aim to cap a magnificent club season with some added special efforts this summer for his country.

For South America to gain another country to be linked with the likes of Brazil and Argentina, this tournament must be a raging success. Not only is Uruguay capable of sneaking into the elimination round, but also they will be a threat until the time they are sent packing.

South Africa vs. Uruguay World Cup Odds:

Bodog currently has South Africa listed as the price of +200. They list Uruguay at +130 and the ‘Draw’ is currently available at +220.

Sports Interaction has the hosts at +200 and Uruguay at +125. The ‘Draw’ here is posted at +210.

South Africa vs. Uruguay Picks and Predictions:

South Africa wins if: Steven Pienaar can outshine Diego Forlan. The Everton midfielder is vastly important to the host’s game plan and he, like Forlan, needs to brilliant for his team to be successful. Pienaar's impact won’t necessarily come in the form of goals like Forlan, but his ability to play on the ball and find teammates in advantageous positions makes him just as lethal on the pitch.

Uruguay wins if: Forlan keeps up his goal-scoring prowess from this past spring with Atletico Madrid. One of the hottest players in the world, and although he isn’t the only capable threat on the team (Ajax’s Luis Suarez), he needs to have a huge tournament if Uruguay are going to be in South Africa for more than just three matches.