Uruguay
Pedigree For the better part of a decade, Uruguay has been South America’s third force: Indeed, its performance over the last three World Cups has not been vastly different to Brazil’s. This tournament proved one too many for the mastermind of that rise, though, with the avuncular, beloved Óscar Washington Tabárez dismissed halfway through qualification.
The Stars A dozen years on from his first encounter with Ghana, Luis Suárez is still there. So, too, are the likes of Edínson Cavani and Diego Godín. The veterans are joined, though, by the standard-bearers of a new generation: Liverpool’s electric, unformed Darwin Nuñez; Barcelona’s Ronald Araújo; and, most of all, the irrepressible Federico Valverde.
Key Question Tabarez’s replacement, Diego Alonso, guided Uruguay to Qatar without much fuss. How he fares will be determined by the extent to which he is prepared to trust the future, rather than relying on the past.
Uruguay’s Qatar 2022 squad
Goalkeepers Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray) Sebastian Sosa (Independiente) Sergio Rochet (Nacional)
Defenders Diego Godin (Velez Sarsfield) Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico de Madrid) Sebastián Coates (Sporting) Guillermo Varela (Flamengo) Marten Caceres (Los Angeles Galaxy) Jose Luis Rodreguez (Nacional) Ronald Araujo (Barcelona) Mathias Olivera (Napoli) Matias Vina (Roma)
Midfielders Matias Vecino (Lazio) Lucas Torreira (Galatasaray) Manuel Ugarte (Sporting) Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham Hotspur) Nicolas de la Cruz (River Plate) Agustin Canobbio (Athletico Paranaense) Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo)
Forwards Facundo Pellistri (Manchester United) Luis Suarez (Nacional) Darwin Nunez (Liverpool) Edinson Cavani (Valencia) Facundo Torres (Orlando City) Maximiliano Gomez (Trabzonspor)
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