La Celeste should finish second in their group and secure their place in the Round of 16 despite a generation that is slowly coming to an end. Thus, Uruguay could face Brazil but lose at the gates of the quarter-finals. This would nevertheless be a lesser achievement than in 2018.
Uruguay have never lost a World Cup final, winning the prestigious trophy twice, in 1930 and 1950. La Celeste have also reached the semi-finals three times: in 1954, 1970 and 2010. They are therefore a historic nation in this competition and, as a reminder, Uruguay hosted the first World Cup in history in 1930, a competition they won.
The World Cup Qualification Campaign:
Uruguay managed to climb on the podium of the CONMEBOL zone. 3rd with 8 wins, 4 draws and 6 losses, la Celeste scored 22 goals for the same number of goals conceded. Nevertheless, Edinson Cavani’s teammates finished far behind the two untouchables, Brazil (17 points more than Uruguay) and Argentina (11 points more).
With a mix of experienced players (Godin, Muslera, Caceres, Suarez or Cavani) and very promising young players (Nuñez, Valverde, Araujo), Uruguay have a complete group in all positions, which allows them to be competitive. They are a nation to watch with great attention during the next few weeks of competition.
Uruguay’s Key Players:
- Fernando Muslera (36). The emblematic Uruguayan goalkeeper, who has more than 130 caps to his name, is still a key figure for his country and his club. In one of his last major competitions, he will be keen to shine and help his side go as far as possible.
- Diego Godin (36). More than 150 caps, a wealth of experience (his first cap came in 2005), including two Champions League finals and a Copa America win in 2011.
- Edinson Cavani (35). He is still here despite a few physical problems that have slowed his progress at Manchester United. With Suarez’s lack of playing time with his club, the former PSG star could lead the Uruguayan attack at the World Cup.
