Uruguay is coming to the World Cup with high hopes after having a disappointing tournament four years ago. They qualified for this summer’s tournament after finishing second in the CONMEBOL standings and are ready to be World Champions for third time in history.

Hope 1: Consistency during the qualifiers.

La Celeste had shown consistency in their game especially during the South American qualifiers. Finishing with 31 points was not a surprise. The team, who has been coach by Oscar Tabarez since 2006, knows exactly what their game plan is and comes to this tournament with mature players who are complemented by dynamic and interesting youngsters who balance every line of the South Americans.

This team, which has been strong at home and on the road during the qualifiers, plays against any rival the same way. This will make Los Charruas a dangerous opponent for any team this summer in Russia.

Hope 2: Solid Defense and Dangerous Offense.

Many Uruguayan footballers play an important role in some of the best soccer teams in the World.

The defense, who is led by Atletico Madrid’s captain Diego Godin, is one of the best in the globe. This is where Uruguay based its game plan. Being solid in defense is what makes the team strong.

And even though the back line is very important for La Celeste, they have some of the best strikers in the World. Barcelona forward Luis Suarez is coming to this tournament looking for a revenge for what happened four years ago when he was suspended by biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during a match. Him along PSG striker Edison Cavani are a dangerous duo, who will be coming to Russia to do what they know which is scoring goals.

Hope 3: La Garra Charrua.

The smallest country in South America is not so small in their passion for the game. With the population being only about 3 million people, Uruguay has shown throughout the history of futbol they are a big country. La Celeste has won the World Cup in two occasions. The first one was in 1930 where they host the very first world championship. The other one is one of the most memorable moment in soccer history when they beat Brazil at Maracana Stadium for what it is still known as ‘El Maracanazo’. So, Los Charruas know how to break the odds to continue being one of the most successful countries in the sport.

But, how do they do it? The answer is ‘La Garra Charrua’. Garra translates in Spanish as bravery, and Charrua refers to the indigenous group who lived in that part of the continent. So, the phrase La Garra Charrua is basically a reference for what every Uruguayan live for in every aspect of their lives. Showing bravery and tenacity to overcome the odds and fight against anybody or anything is what makes La Celeste a strong candidate to win the FIFA World Cup this 2018.  

Fear: Old Ideas

Even though the team has shown consistency in their game, they have been playing the same football style for  the last twelve years. Coach Oscar Tabarez, who is one of the most successful coaches in country’s history, has renovated the squad, but there is a lack of renovation on the game plan. The traditional strategy of 4-4-2 the team uses every game is too predictable for their rivals. This helps their opponents to control and plan in advance how they can beat them. This is the major drawback for a team that might be in a point where they will be looking for fresh ideas and coaching style after the summer tournament.