World Cup 2018: 5 underdogs to cheer for

By rehaan díaz

Modified Jul 02, 2018 22:23 GMT

**Underdog nations punch above their weight, by being led by a few world-class performers**

#1 Uruguay

**Uruguay can slip under the radar and make a fine run in the Cup**

Coach: Óscar Tabárez | Preferred system: 4-4-2 | Group A

FIFA Ranking: 17 | Key players: Luis Suárez, Edinson Cavani, Rodrigo Bentancur

Best WC performance Champions (1930, 1950)

Opening Round Opponents: Egypt ( June 14) | Saudi Arabia (June 20) | Russia (June 25)

They are the only country on this list who have gone beyond the semis in a World Cup but that was half a century ago. Uruguay enter the cup high on confidence after finishing second behind Brazil in the South American qualifiers. The opening game against Egypt is realistically the only game that can trouble them. They will get out the group and face either Spain or Portugal, and they have the potential to cause an upset as they have a solid defence, creative midfielders and fox-in-the-box strikers in Cavani and Suárez.

Edited by Arvind Sriram