World Cup 2018: Top 5 dark horses in Russia

Portugal v France - Final: UEFA Euro 2016 — Portugal for the win?

#2 Uruguay

FBL-WC-2018-URU-ARG — Uruguay could be the surprise package of this World Cup

Uruguay will be going into the tournament as underdogs. However, being placed in a group with Russia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, qualification to the round of 16 should be a cakewalk for the two time World Cup winners.

Oscar Tabarez, who has been the manager of the side since 2006, will be making the calls from the touchline, while Diego Godin will captain the side.

The presence of Atletico Madrid's Godin and Jose Gimenez will bring solidity to the team's defence, while Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani will be hunting for goals from the front. Inter's Matias Vecino and Juventus' Rodrigo Bentacur are also key figures in the team.

Star Player - Luis Suarez & Edinson Cavani

The prolific attacking duo of Suarez and Cavani is definitely going to be Uruguay's lethal weapon in the World Cup. The two have scored 53 league goals between them for their respective clubs and Tabarez will be hoping that they will be able to reproduce such form at Russia as well.

About the author

Dakir is a European and Indian football journalist at Sportskeeda with an overall experience of 10 years. Holding a Master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication, and currently pursuing Master’s in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University, he is a seasoned football journalist who has interviewed the likes of former Liverpool star John Arne Riise, covered the entire 2022-23 Indian Super League season of the Kerala Blasters, and has delivered a seminar at an international conference held by St. Albert's College, Ernakulam.

Thanks to his extensive academic background in journalism, Dakir understands the importance of accuracy and spends a significant amount of time researching the subject. In today’s data-driven world of football, where players are perceived as machines, he prides himself amplify the voices of the people that make football the beautiful game that it is.

He started following football in 2013, and more specifically, Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool, and admires Jurgen Klopp for his untouched charisma and unmatched legacy. A perpetual underdog supporter, he is a fan of under-fire Reds forward Darwin Nunez and can’t wait for him to show the world what he truly is. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s iconic “corner taken quickly” corner assist for Divock Origi in Liverpool’s 4-0 UCL semifinal win over Barcelona left a lasting impact on him.

When not writing, Dakir enjoys indulging in his guilty pleasure - watching mass commercial movies.

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Edited by Shambhu Ajith