Uruguay Relying Too Much On Suarez And Cavani At World Cup 2022
The four years since the 2018 World Cup have seen a significant transformation for Uruguay. The youth core has grown up, their manager of 15 years has left, and two of the team’s most important players are nearing the end of their careers.
La Celeste had a difficult journey to Qatar as they were in danger of not qualifying at one point. However, they come to the competition with high expectations.
The loss of Oscar Tabarez from the touchline will be one of the biggest changes for Uruguay this time.
The man fondly known as “El Maestro” had been at the helm for 15 years and had overseen the team’s qualification in the previous three World Cups, including a third-place finish in 2010.
However, Tabarez was fired after a dismal start to their 2022 World Cup campaign, which saw them drop to seventh in the qualification standings. Former Atletico Madrid striker Diego Alonso, who took his place, made an immediate difference. Uruguay completed the qualification process by winning all four of its games.
Unsurprisingly, Suarez led Uruguay in scoring during the qualifications.
South Korea, Ghana, and Portugal make up Group H along with Uruguay. In recent World Cups, La Celeste has defeated each of these three teams.
After the team missed out in the 2006 World Cup qualifying round, Tabarez was named manager. La Celeste has since earned a spot in each major competition on their schedule.
Suarez thinks the team’s young players, who are “playing at the highest level in Europe,” are responsible for the raised expectations.
Rodrigo Bentancur has established himself in Antonio Conte’s Tottenham side, Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo’s emergence over the past year has put veteran Diego Godin’s place under threat and in 24-year-old Fede Valverde, they have one of the most exciting players in the world at the moment.
Darwin Nunez of Liverpool is a boost to the attack, but the front line is still led by Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, who are both 35 and will play their final World Cup.
Between them, they have scored nine of Uruguay’s last 13 World Cup goals. While the hopes of the nation will fall squarely on the pair, it remains to be seen if they are still strong enough to carry them.
