Uruguay
A country of 3.5M that's won the World Cup twice — now Bielsa's ferocious press.
Team rating
- Attack81
- Midfield82
- Defense82
Next matches
- Next upvs Cape VerdeHard Rock Stadium, Miami GardensJun 21
- vs SpainEstadio Akron, ZapopanJun 26
The read
Uruguay are tiny — 3.5 million people — yet they punch above their weight like no one else, with two World Cup titles in their past. Now under obsessive, philosopher-coach Marcelo Bielsa, they play a frantic high-pressing style. The old legend Luis Suárez is gone; this is a new era led by midfielder Federico Valverde and striker Darwin Núñez, and their 80th-minute equalizer to rescue a 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia was the team's DNA in one moment: never give up.
The fan’s readA country of 3.5 million that has won the World Cup twice and never stops fighting — now under philosopher-coach Bielsa playing ferocious high-press football. Their 80th-minute equalizer was the DNA.
The cast
- Marcelo BielsaArgentine cult figure nicknamed 'El Loco' (The Madman) for his obsessive, all-out-attacking philosophy; previously coached Argentina, Chile, Athletic Bilbao and Leeds Unitedmanager
- Federico Valverde ★Uruguay's captain and one-man engine room — a midfielder who tackles, runs box-to-box, and detonates shots from distance.ClubReal Madrid
- Darwin NúñezThe most chaotic striker in football — capable of three misses and a worldie in the same game, and overdue a goal.ClubAl-Hilal
- Ronald AraújoA wall of a defender who can shackle the best strikers alive.ClubBarcelona
- Maximiliano AraujoThe debut hero — a wide man who delivered on the biggest stage.ClubSporting CP
