FIFA World Cup 2018 Group A: Uruguay

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA (AA) - Uruguay will take on hosts Russia, Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Group A of the FIFA World Cup 2018.

Uruguay collected 31 points in their South America qualification matches against Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Paraguay, Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela and claimed the second spot to participate in the World Cup.

The team have largely placed their hopes in the striker duo Edinson Cavani from Paris Saint-Germain, and Luis Suarez from Barcelona.

Cavani was on top form this season as he scored 28 goals for champions PSG in French Ligue 1, and he scored 10 goals for Uruguay in the South America qualification stage.

Suarez was also crucial for Barcelona to win Spanish La Liga where he scored 25 goals for his club and 5 goals for Uruguay in the qualifications.

Other significant players for Uruguay are Istanbul side Galatasaray's goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, Lucas Torreria from Sampdoria, Diego Godin from Atletico Madrid, and Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus.

Uruguay won the World Cup two times in its history, first one in 1930 -- the first World Cup tournament -- and in 1950. They were eliminated in the last-16 round in Brazil 2014.

Confirmed 23-men squad for Uruguay:

Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martin Silva (Vasco da Gama), Martin Campana (Independiente)

Defenders: Diego Godin, Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Coates (Sporting Lizbon), Maximiliano Pereira (Porto), Gaston Silva (Independiente), Martin Caceres (Lazio), Guillermo Varela (Penarol)

Midfielders: Nahitan Nandez (Boca Juniors), Lucas Torreira (Sampdoria), Matias Vecino (Inter), Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus), Carlos Sanchez, Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Cruzeiro), Diego Laxalt (Genoa), Cristian Rodriguez (Penarol)

Forward: Cristhian Stuani (Girona), Maximiliano Gomez (Celta Vigo), Jonathan Urretaviscaya (Monterrey), Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain), Luis Suarez (Barcelona)

Manager: Oscar Tabarez