Uruguay have won the World Cup twice and on paper, they have the star power to make it a shock third: Edinson Cavani, Darwin Nunez, Luis Suarez and Federico Valverde are some of their familiar names. But there are weaknesses at the back and they face a tough route under an inexperienced manager…
The manager
Twelve months ago, legendary national team manager Oscar Tabarez was fired after a string of poor results left Uruguay in danger of not qualifying for Qatar. It was the end of the then-74-year-old’s 15-year tenure at the helm and he was replaced by Diego Alonso, who is 28 years younger than Tabarez.
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The appointment was a surprise because of Alonso’s inexperience at international level. He had success coaching in Mexico but was fired by David Beckham’s MLS side Inter Miami in 2020 and his career was at a crossroads.
Eloquent and well-dressed, Alonso is a fiery manager on the sideline, and he inspired Uruguay to a top-three finish behind Brazil and Argentina in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying.
It also marked a changing of eras for Uruguay, who added a more modern pressing element to their play while maintaining the defensive reliability that had long characterised their football. Alonso will rely on a core group of veteran players and a mix of up-and-coming talent.
The household name you haven’t heard of yet
Since joining Flamengo in 2019, Giorgian de Arrascaeta has helped the Brazilian powerhouse win 11 trophies, including two Copa Libertadores triumphs. The 28-year-old is an inventive dribbler and playmaker with vision and pace. He can play centrally as a No 10 or as an inverted winger on the left flank.
❗️This assist from Giorgian de Arrascaeta❗️
Top class from the Uruguayan. pic.twitter.com/vkf7hkHOwp
— Felipe Cárdenas (@FelipeCar) August 10, 2022
Real Madrid’s Valverde can pull the strings for Uruguay when they get to Qatar or play in a wide position with more defensive responsibilities, but it is De Arrascaeta who will be expected to unlock defensive blocks and find Nunez, Suarez and Cavani in front of goal.
Strengths
Whether it’s referred to as gamesmanship or dark arts, Uruguay are international football’s mind-game gurus. They use whatever they can to sway matches in their favour and get under the skin of their opponents. But they are also strong tactically.
Their football isn’t particularly expansive, but the emergence of top talents such as Valverde and Nunez and energetic creative midfielders De Arrascaeta and Nico de la Cruz, as well as a hard-working back line, means they can match elite international sides. And if their midfield clicks, they can control a match for 90 minutes.
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There are some big names in the team: Suarez and Cavani are no longer in their prime but underestimate them at your peril. Qualifying from arguably the strongest group in the tournament (Portugal, South Korea and Ghana are their opponents) will be tough but could suit their fearless footballing culture.
Weaknesses
Their back four will tackle hard, win aerial duels and stay defensively compact, but centre-backs Jose Maria Gimenez, Sebastian Coates and Diego Godin are at a serious disadvantage against pacy attackers.
Uruguay play with intensity in midfield and have players like De la Cruz and Facundo Pellistri, 20, who can press an opponent’s back line. But if Uruguay are caught in transition, their lack of speed will be evident. Teams that prioritise possession such as Portugal, who Uruguay face in their second game, will find success if they’re able to play through Uruguay’s midfield and pull apart the back four.
Local knowledge
Uruguay’s national team is known as “La Celeste” because of their sky blue kits. That’s the basis for one of their fans’ most popular chants. Soy Celeste (I’m Blue) is sung with pride by Uruguay’s supporters. It’s not quite Eiffel 65’s “Blue”, but it’s a basic song that anyone can get behind.
I’m Blue!
I’m Blue!
Blue I am!
Another popular song, Volveremos (We’ll Be Back), is inspired by Uruguay’s 1930 World Cup title. Uruguay won again in 1950, but the nostalgia of Volveremos focuses on their first win. Again, the English translation doesn’t do the song any justice, but here we go:
We’ll be back, we’ll be back
We’ll be back again
We’ll be champions again
Just like the first time
Expectations back home
Despite having a population of less than four million, Uruguay’s players are under the pressure of a World Cup heavyweight. People back home expect them to reach the late stages of every World Cup.
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There’s optimism because of the team’s talent and experience, but there’s palpable anxiety that the competition may be too big a task for Alonso. Uruguay will hope to top Group H and avoid a possible second-round clash with Brazil, who are favourites to finish first in Group G. It’s not the draw that Uruguay wanted and that may temper expectations back home, but if they advance, Uruguay are a side that most teams will want to avoid.
Read more: See the rest of The Athletic’s World Cup 2022 squad guides
(Main graphic — photo: Getty Images/design: Sam Richardson)
