FIFA World Cup 2022: Oscar Tabarez’s men will be looking to pull off a repeat of 1950 when the Uruguayans pulled off one of the biggest upsets in football history and beat the Brazilians in the Maracana in the World Cup Final. If the Uruguayans are to recapture some of that magic and grab their third World Cup, this will be the time to do it. With the majority of their starters in fantastic form, including Liverpool talisman Luis Suarez, and the World Cup back on South American soil, the Tavarez men are favorites to advance from their tough group.
GOALKEEPER:
There should be little surprise when Fernando Muslera takes the field in Brazil as Uruguay’s first choice. Muslera played well in South Africa four years ago and the Galatasary man will be called upon again to mind the nets in Brazil. Martin Silva and Rodrigo Munoz will back up Muslera but the Uruguayans will be hopeful neither have to see the pitch.
DEFENSE:
Three-quarters of the Uruguayan defense is coming off of stellar seasons, Martin Caceres has helped Juventus retain the Scudetto, Diego Godin has been a revelation in the Atletico Madrid defense and has helped them reach the Champions League final, and Maximiliano Pereira helped propel Benfica to the Portuguese Liga title. However, Diego Lugano is not a part of that group. His spotty form with West Bromwich Albion has not stopped Tavarez from including him in his squad and most likely will not keep him from the first team. Lugano’s invaluable experience will be the biggest help he provides, but Wayne Rooney and Mario Balotelli may well torment him in the middle of the park.
MIDFIELD:
Veterans Nicolas Lodeiro and Egidio Arevalo Rios will continue to populate the defensive midfield for Los Charruas as they have for many years. They will be called upon to support Lugano in every match but may have their hands full with Italy’s talented midfield. On the attacking side of things, Atletico Madrid's Cristian Rodriguez and Espanyol’s Christian Stuani will be employed to connect the stunning attack with the rest of the Uruguayan formation. Southampton’s Gaston Ramirez could be a dark horse to come on as a super-sub and Sebastian Eguren could also make multiple appearances off the bench.
The Uruguayan attack is simply stunning. Luis Suarez’s club form has seen him set a Barclay’s Premier League record and Edinson Cavani, while suffering some dips in form, has been an outstanding partner for Zlatan Ibrahimovic at PSG. The chemistry of these two will be critical in how far the Uruguayans progress. The Confederations Cup should serve as a learning exercise for the Uruguayans, as Suarez and Cavani were unable to cultivate their chemistry and settled for fourth place. The Uruguayans will be facing three very solid defenses in their group and the two strikers will have to play at their highest level to break down their opposition. If either of the two were to struggle, wily veteran Diego Forlan and Palermo man Abel Hernandez are more than capable of coming on and providing an attacking spark.
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