Uruguay head coach Diego Alonso is licking his lips at the prospect of pairing up Darwin Nunez and Luis Suarez.
The Liverpool strikers from past and present will spearhead the two-time winners’ latest assault on the competition. With Edinson Cavani likely to act as understudy, the Sky Blues have plenty of options up front. And Alonso knows it.
He said: “With our strikers, our plan is to put a good performance together in the first game - we’re excited with what we can produce. They give us peace of mind. We have flexibility - but we also have goalscoring opportunities, not only with our strikers but also with other players. We’re good defensively, logically this will make us a very competitive team.”
Uruguay have had a chequered past during past competitions. Suarez created a global furure when he bit Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in Brazil eight years ago. And Jose Batista’s red card inside the first minute back in ’86 proves they can mix it.
Alonso veered off script when he described a squad that is ageing - but whose first XI is packed full of quality. A few - such as Suarez who returned to his homeland to prepare for this with Nacional and former Atletico Madrid star Diego Godin - who overcame tendonitis, have gone the extra mile to be ready.
Alonso said: “When I say they are the best in the world, I’m talking about for me. They are my players, my children. They are probably not the best-behaved in the world. But they’re mine - that’s why they are the best.
“I’m not talking out of arrogance here. But of feeling. They are in exceptional condition. They’ve prepared themselves conscientiously. With the exception of one injured player, there’s not one of them who is not in his best form.
Alonso took over from Oscar Tabarez whose reign came to an end after 15 years powered into the finals by winning their final four qualification games. Godin said: “It’s one thing to suffer - another to enjoy it. We went through so many tough moments.
“We took so much criticism. We were out. Our coach left, we had a big weight on our shoulders. It’s a great relief to be here. I’m not euphoric to be here. I wasn’t jumping for joy, it was just a relief. We have reached the goal our country was dreaming of. It was tough - but I can assure you I’m enjoying this.”
