Uruguay

Uruguay have once more qualified through the play-offs to reach the World Cup. Goals away by Lugano and at home by Abreu gave Uruguay an aggregate 2-1 victory over the unfortunate Costa Rica to make it to the finals. How they fair there, will probably correspond with how Deigo Forlan plays for them.

With countries such as Brazil and Argentina in their qualifying group, it is always going to be a challenge to qualify for the World Cup. Two other nations are guaranteed a ticket yet one more can be obtained, as it so invariably has, through a play-off match against a North American qualifier. So Uruguay have done well to make it to South Africa with a form that looks somewhat patchy.

Uruguay only won one game against another team that is managed to battle through qualification to reach South Africa, a 2-0 won at home against Paraguay. This lack of results against the better teams may show us that they may well struggle this summer.

The South American’s have managed to land themselves in Group A, which contains France (last times beaten finalists), Mexico (an omnipresent second round nation) and South Africa (the tournament hosts). Each tie is tricky for different reasons, but Uruguay do have the talent to cope, if they perform to their full potential.

The front pair of Deigo Forlan and Luis Suarez are a dangerous combination. Forlan will be remembered forever in Britain for being one of the biggest flops the Premier League has witnessed, going 50 games for Manchester United. However, he has topped the lead goalscorer charts in La Liga twice – once for Villarreal and once for Atletico Madrid.

Luis Suarez is Ajex’s club captain and has netted almost 70 goals in 100 matches for the side, an unbelievable achievement. Suarez scored four goals in qualifying and will be looking to score more at the World Cup. If he fails to hit the target, Oscar Tabarez can always bring on the reliable Sebastian Abreu, who scored 6 goals, many of which were after coming off the bench.

Expect to see Oscar Tabarez to field an attacking 5-3-2 formation, with defensive midfielders holding, giving the wing-backs licence to rampage forward to join in with the action in the latter parts of the pitch. This is his second time in charge of the national side, having taken Uruguay to the knock-out stages of Italia 90.

Despite playing with seemingly attacking wing-backs, MartinCaceres and Maxi Pereira are more natural gifted at defending. So do not expect to see too much flair coming from wide areas of the pitch.

Diego Lugano is the Uruguay captain and is also a solid centre-back. He will play in the middle of the back three, controlling the game with this feet and his voice. His head has also being very useful going forward, with Lugano scoring 4 goals during qualification, including the first against Costa Rica in the play-off.

Uruguay will be looking to progress to the second round, yet their group is tough. France will be expected to win and South Africa will look no doubt play better than their abilities suggest with the tournament being played there. However, Uruguay have the power to overcome all three of their group opponents, it is just whether their form will give them the consistency to play the football they are capable of. We shall have to wait and see.