Uruguay TEAMS

Uruguay TEAMS

Uruguay once again enters the World Cup with hopes of proving that it's a team to be reckoned with now, not one that once was great. Powered by big scorers like Diego Forlan (left) and Luis Suarez, there's a good chance it might break through.

World-Uruguay hope to recapture former glory in S.Africa

MONTEVIDEO, May 18 (Reuters) - With a mixture of outstanding strikers, young talent and their traditional grit, Uruguay hope they can take a step in South Africa towards restoring some of their former soccer glory.

If the prospect of lifting the World Cup again, as they did in 1930 and 1950, might be a dream too far, the players still have the ability to be a surprise in the tournament.

The task will not be easy. La Celeste's Group A opponents are 2006 runners-up France, hosts South Africa, and Mexico.

"We must go to the World Cup with expectations because we have players who are in the important leagues along with other players from the elite teams," coach Oscar Tabarez said in a recent interview with Reuters.

"I have the hope that we could be a surprise, although at no time are we going to be believe that we are the favourites or think we are champions."

Among Uruguay's leading players is Diego Forlan of Atletico Madrid who has topped La Liga's scorers' chart twice and won Europe's Golden Boot twice. There is also Luis Suarez of Ajax, top scorer in the Dutch top flight this season with 35 goals.

Another attacking option is Sebastian Abreu of Brazil's Botafogo, who is the top scorer among active Uruguay players with 24 goals in 55 internationals.

Captain Diego Lugano of Turkish side Fenerbahce is a natural leader with a temperament that epitomises the gritty spirit of Uruguay's football. In the same mould is midfielder Diego Perez, of Monaco, who fights for every ball.

With more temperament than technique, the little country that slew mighty Brazil in Rio de Janeiro in 1950, won the Copa America 14 times and still inspires respect in opponents, must overcome the notion that they are a team of the past.

"We play strongly and we have done for many years. The team have players who know how to play good football and we hope to do so at the World Cup," Forlan said.

In recent decades La Celeste have appeared in only the 1990 and 2002 World Cups and they reached South Africa after an erratic qualifying road. Getting to the second round will be an important achievement.

The last time they reached the last eight was in 1990, when Tabarez was also coach, and they have not made the semi-finals since Mexico in 1970.

World-Factbox on Uruguay

May 18 (Reuters) - Factbox on Uruguay who are in Group A at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa:

Colours: Light blue shirts, black shorts, black socks.

Nickname: La Celeste (the light blue)

Previous World Cup appearances - 10: 1930, 1950, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1986, 1990, 2002

Best World Cup performance: winners 1930, 1950

Coach: Oscar Washington Tabarez

Most capped player: Rodolfo Rodriguez 78

Top goalscorer: Hector Scarone 31

Talking points:

Uruguay have a more settled squad than they have had for a long time, due largely to the unprecedented continuity in modern times that coach Tabarez has had in the job throughout this World Cup cycle of four years. This means his selection policy has strong foundations and his tactics have been well rehearsed, making the Uruguayans a more dangerous prospect than they have been since they reached the 1970 semi-finals.

Players to watch:

Rugged defender and captain Diego Lugano for leadership, young midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro for creative moves and strike pair Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez for speed and goals

Uruguay Squad - Jorge Martinez Fails To Make The Cut
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has announced his final 23-man squad for the World Cup and insisted his side are well prepared following a final day of training in Montevideo.

“Our aim is to do a good job at the World Cup,” he told Fifa.com. “I have it very clear in my mind what we need to do.”

Trabarez had named a provisional squad of 26 and so only needed to cut three players ahead of FIFA’s deadline today, and River Plate midfielder Jorge Rodriguez, Nacional winger Alvaro Gonzalez and Catania striker Jorge Martinez were the unlucky trio.

La Celeste have been drawn in Group A with hosts South Africa, Mexico and France and Tabarez was confident ahead of their opening match against les Bleus.

“Certain players that may have arrived with less playing time like [Martin] Caceres still have two weeks to improve their condition,” said the coach. “We will begin working on Thursday focusing on the tactics and concepts before our opening game against France.”
Goalkeepers    -
Fernando Muslera    Lazio (ITA)
Juan-Guillermo Castillo    Deportivo Cali (COL)
Martin Silva    Defensor Sporting
Defenders    -
Diego Lugano    Fenerbahce (TUR)
Diego Godin    Villarreal (ESP)
Andres Scotti    Colo Colo (CHI)
Jorge Fucile    Porto (POR)
Martin Caceres    Juventus (ITA)
Mauricio Victorino    Universidad de Chile (CHI)
Maximiliano Pereira    Benfica (POR)
Midfielders    -
Walter Gargano    Napoli (ITA)
Egidio Arevalo-Rios    Penarol
Sebastian Eguren    AIK (SWE)
Diego Perez    Monaco (FRA)
Alvaro Pereira    Porto (POR)
Alvaro Fernandez    Universidad de Chile (CHI)
Ignacio Gonzalez    Valencia (ESP)
Nicolas Lodeiro    Ajax (NED)
Forwards    -
Sebastian Fernandez    Banfield (ARG)
Luis Suarez    Ajax (NED)
Diego Forlan    Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Edinson Cavani    Palermo (ITA)
Sebastian Abreu    Botafogo (BRA)