The State of the Uruguay International Soccer Team
A team’s ability to compete with the best international teams in the world is the benchmark that all squads strive for. Success on the grandest stage of the international level can virtually put a country on the soccer map. This has happened to the small South American country of Uruguay. Awesome, complete performances in the 2010 World Cup and the 2011 Copa America along with signature wins at Italy and at Argentina have placed Uruguay as the number 4 international squad in the entire world.
Led by future legend Diego Forlan, the team is young, experienced, exciting, and strong. Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and Napoli wingman Edinson Cavani combine with Forlan to create one of the most potent attacks in the world. Goal scoring hasn’t been a problem for individuals on the team, but sometimes the structure of the team has put a damper on offense. Attacking for the Uruguayan team has been relatively easy in the 4-3-3 format with the three premier strikers on top, but has been a challenge with only Suarez and Forlan forward in the 4-4-2. While the experience Suarez and Forlan are the two most talented soccer players on the team, the young Cavani is certainly the x-factor to the offense.
Manager Oscar Washington Tabarez leads the team with a defensive oriented style of soccer, preferring to keep all 11 players on his side of the pitch and relying on capitalizing on turnovers with counterattacks to hurt the opponent. Anchoring the defense, which has several good 1-on-1 defenders, is goalie Fernando Nestor Muslera. Considered one of the best international goalies on the planet, Muslera caught the eye of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who ended up favoring the up and coming De Gea to keep the Red’s goal instead of paying a hefty price for Porto’s young superstar.
With a talented attack, a great goalie, a team and coach committed to defense, and a farm system filled with amazing young talent, the small country of Uruguay certainly has the formula to be a great squad for many years to come.
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