Fifteen times, Uruguay won the Copa América. They share the record for most championships won in the competition’s history with Argentina. The most recent victory for Uruguay came in 2011.
The team has won the FIFA World Cup twice, including the first World Cup in 1930 as hosts when it defeated Argentina 4-2 in the final. Uruguay is also the proud owner of four FIFA World Championships.
Their second championship was won in 1950, when they defeated the host nation Brazil 2-1 in the game’s championship, which drew the largest football crowd ever. Additionally, in 1924 and 1928, Uruguay won two gold medals at the Olympic football competition. FIFA recognizes the gold medals won in the Summer Olympics in 1924 and 1928 as senior FIFA World Championships.
Manager Diego Alonso has made suggestions about who might be nominated to the Uruguay World Cup 2022 team, which is anticipated to be announced in October.
Later this month, Uruguay will play friendlies against Iran and Canada as part of their ongoing preparation for the major competition in Qatar.
They were defeated by the eventual champions France in the quarterfinals of their previous appearance in 2018, and Diego Alonso and his team will be hoping to improve on that showing this time around.
They were put in Group H with South Korea, Ghana, and Portugal.
Goalkeepers
The starting goalkeeper for the 2022 World Cup should be the seasoned Fernando Muslera. He represents Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray, and with more than 130 international appearances under his belt, he is without a doubt the best goalie in the world.
Second in the hierarchy is Sergio Rochet. The 29-year-old works for Nacional and filled in for Muslera during the World Cup qualifiers’ closing stages as his competitor was recovering from a ligament injury.
Defenders
Diego Godin, the captain of Uruguay, is in charge of an outstanding backline. Jose Maria Gimenez, who presently competes for Diego Simeone’s team in the Spanish capital, is coupled at the center of the defense with the former Atletico Madrid player. Sebastian Coates and Martin Caceres provide competent support for them. Gimenez and Godin should travel to Qatar in November despite their present injuries.
Ronald Araujo of Barcelona might have to make do with a spot at right-back given that the two centre-back positions appear to be set.
Damian Suarez of Getafe and Guillermo Varela ought to provide Araujo tough competition for that position.
The two leading candidates for the left-back position are Mathias Olivera of Napoli and Mathias Vina of Roma, and Alonso has the luxury of switching between the two based on form and opponents.
Midfielders
Alonso either lines up his team with a flat four in the middle of the pitch or a five-man midfield with two double pivots.
Normally, Lucas Torreira and Rodrigo Bentancur serve as the two defensive midfielders. The other two choices are Manuel Ugarte and Mauro Arrambari.
It won’t come as a surprise if Federico Valverde is utilised in more advanced areas of the field rather than from a deep-lying position given his great play for Real Madrid. The 24-year-old might have Nicolas De La Cruz and Matthias Vecino with him in the middle of the field.
Giorgian de Arrascaeta of Flamengo and Liga MX player Fernando Gorriaran of Santos Laguna both have the ability to steal the show with strong cameos.
Attackers
It is not surprising that Uruguay will once again have one of the most outstanding attacking units at the 2022 World Cup given that they have recently produced some excellent strikers.
Even though he is nearing the end of his career, Luis Suarez, 35, still possesses the kind of flare that makes defenders cringe.
Darwin Nunez, who is developing into a superb attacker under Jurgen Klopp’s guidance at Liverpool, is the new light on the horizon.
Alonso, 35, has Edinson Cavani as a backup option as he attempts to qualify for the World Cup after signing with Valencia on a free agent basis.
Strongest XI
The popular option among the sticks is Muslera.
Araujo at right back and Vina on the other wing are set to pair up with Godin and Jimenez at the center of the defense.
While Valverde and Vecino should take up positions slightly higher up the pitch out wide, Torreira and Bentancur should be in charge of screening the backline.
Suarez and Nunez might start at the top of the lineup.
Player to watch
Fernando Muslera
He is a goalkeeper for both the Uruguayan national team and Turkish club Galatasaray, where he also serves as captain.
In 2011, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics ranked him as the sixth-greatest goalkeeper in the world, making him one of the best of his generation.
Muslera, a full international since 2009, has more than 130 Uruguayan caps to his credit. He participated in five Copa América competitions, winning the championship in 2011, and he played every minute in goal for Uruguay as the nation’s indisputable number one in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the FIFA World Cups in 2014 and 2018, guiding his team to fourth place.
