Uruguay World Cup 2018 squad and team guide

Uruguay Luis Suarez 
Luis Suarez was England's chief tormentor in their 2014 World Cup defeat to Uruguay  Credit: PA 

Here we take a look at Uruguay's World Cup squad and the other things it will be handy to know about the Group A challengers.

Uruguay's World Cup squad -  the 23-man names

Goalkeepers:  Fernando Muslera, Martin Silva, Martin Campana.

Defenders: Diego Godin, Sebastian Coates, Jose Maria Gimenez, Maximiliano Pereira, Gaston Silva, Martin Caceres, Guillermo Varela.

Midfielders: Nahitan NandezLucas Torreira, Matias Vecino, Rodrigo Bentancur, Carlos Sanchez, Giorgian De Arrascaeta, Cristian Rodriguez, Gaston Ramirez.

Strikers: Cristhian Stuani, Maximiliano Gomez, Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez.

Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani are the standout names in Uruguay's 23-man squad Credit: Uruguay Twitter 

What odds are Uruguay to win the World Cup?

28/1.

Who's the coach?

The great revivalist and grand old man of Pampas football, Oscar Washington Tabarez, El Maestro, aged 71 and 12 years into his second spell.

Who's the star?

Still Luis Suarez with his mesmerisingly slick dribbling, cold-blooded finishing and red-blooded appetite for human flesh.

Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani will lead the line for Uruguay  Credit: Reuters 

Best thing about them

Penetratingly skilful attacking of Suarez and Edinson Cavani combines harmoniously with their uncompromising cut-throat swagger.

Worst thing about them

Youthful midfield is rich in promise and has added pace to their famous guile but has made the side more open.

You may recognise…

Diego Godin, the world’s best defender, who turns every battle into a jarring, bruising ordeal. Has the heart and bite of a scrawny lion.

Cameramen will be picking out…

Cavani, his alice band and brooding countenance, Suarez’s notorious gnashers and his pistol-finger celebration. 

Fans' favourite chant

"Soy celeste, soy celeste, celeste soy yo"

(I am sky blue, I am sky blue, sky blue I am).

On-field prediction

Win the group but depart in the quarter-finals.

Off-field prediction

Brazil 2014’s best fans, weeping incontinently in joy and sorrow, but too sparse now to make the same impact.