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Uruguay head into their 14th world cup participation with a very polarised team, many veterans on one hand like Luis Suarez, and talents who can lay claim to being the future of the game on the other like Fede Valverde.
The small South American nation bordered by the southern Atlantic would forever hold the record of being the first country to win the FIFA world cup, a tournament they have won twice, or four times if you count the two Olympic tournaments they won before the start of the world cup in 1930 which FIFA organised and recognises as legitimate world championship wins. Hence the four stars on their jerseys.
The sun of may has not shone on La Celeste since they last dominated the pinnacle of world football winning four straight world championships they participated in 1924, 1928 -Olympics, 1930, 1950 -FIFA world cup. They declined to participate in 1934 and 1938.
Road to Qatar
Changing this narrative would not come so easy for Diego Alonso side if the CONMEBOL qualifiers is anything to go by, as they struggled to show any form of dominance as you would expect from a nation of that pedigree
They finished on 28 points after 18 games averaging less than two points per game, compared to Brazil and Argentina, who are their major competitors in the continent who picked up 45 and 39 points respectively in one game fewer, Uruguay were pretty mediocre.
They also managed a goal difference of zero, a total bettered by even Ecuador.
Uruguay previous World Cup
There is also not so much succour to be drawn from their last two world cups, both times they failed to advance past the quarter finals.
The most recent was a quarter final loss to eventual champions France after picking up maximum points in the group stages and dispatching Ronaldo’s Portugal in the round of sixteen.
2014 was a lot more disappointing after they were handed a shocking defeat by a lesser fancied Costa rica, before managing to pick up enough points for qualification in a group that had England and Italy only to be knocked out by James Rodrguez and Columbia in the round of sixteen.
Uruguay’s ageing squad
This year La Celeste would be relying on many footballers performing their last dance, one would hope the encore is as good as the show.
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Luis Suarez (35), Diego Godin (36), Edinson Cavani (35), Fernando Muslera (36) and Martin Caceres(35) are all still important members of the Uruguayan national team and they made their way into Diego Alonso’s Squad.
Uruguay World Cup 2022 squad
Goalkeeper: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray)
Goalkeeper: Sergio Rochet (Nacional)
Goalkeeper: Sebastian Sosa (Independiente)
Defender: Diego Godin (Velez Sarsfield)
Defender: Guillermo Varela (Flamengo)
Defender: Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid)
Defender: Ronald Araujo (Barcelona)
Defender: Jose Luis Rodriguez (Nacional)
Defender: Matias Vina (Roma)
Defender: Sebastian Coates (Sporting CP)
Defender: Martin Caceres (LA Galaxy)
Defender: Mathias Olivera (Napoli)
Midfielder: Manuel Ugarte (Sporting CP)
Midfielder: Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham)
Midfielder: Nicolas de la Cruz (River Plate)
Midfielder: Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo)
Midfielder: Lucas Torreira (Galatasaray)
Midfielder: Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
Midfielder: Matias Vecino (Lazio)
Forward: Luis Suarez (Nacional)
Forward: Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)
Forward: Maxi Gomez (Trabzonspor)
Forward: Augustin Canobbio (Paranaense)
Forward: Facundo Torres (Orlando City)
Forward: Edinson Cavani (Valencia)
Forward: Facundo Pellistri (Manchester United)
Uruguay star players
It's not all grey and old with Uruguay as they have a gem in Federico Valverde who they would hope can replicate his form for Real Madrid this season
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The Midfielder who has already scored four goals in 44 CAPS for his country is seeing finer form in front of goal this season as he has grabbed eight already.
Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez is expected to be the main man in attack providing energy and spark to his more experienced but slower partner -Suarez or Cavani.
The young striker struggled to justify his price tag earlier in the season, but his form in front of goal is getting sharper as we edge closer to the World Cup, scoring seven goals in his last 10 games this season.
Uruguay coach
Uruguay fired long standing manager Oscar Tabarez after the 75 year old struggled to navigate through the CONMEBOL qualifiers
He was replaced by former LA Galaxy manager Diego Alonso, the team has been on the upward trajectory ever since, as he took them from 7th place on the standings to 3rd, ensuring automatic qualification.
Uruguay World Cup fixtures
Uruguay vs South Korea
Thursday, November 24, 02:00 PM (GMT+1)
Portugal vs Uruguay
Monday, November 28, 08:00 PM (GMT+1)
Ghana vs Uruguay
Monday, November 28, 08:00 PM (GMT+1)
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