The last time Uruguay won the Copa America, it was five years ago after what was a scrappy start to the tournament. Since then, La Celeste have failed to do well in the two major tournaments that followed. In the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Uruguay were knocked out in the Round of 16 stage while in the 2015 Copa America, they lost to champions, Chile in the quarter-finals.
In this year's Copa America, Uruguay will be looking to put the disappointment of the last few years behind them and add another trophy to their cabinet. With Luis Suarez, arguably the world's best forward, in their side, the ninth-ranked team in the world will be one of the favourites to lift the centenary edition.
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Uruguay have remained unbeaten in all three matches they have played in 2016, winning two and drawing one against Brazil. Having won the first ever Copa America in 1916, Uruguay will have an added source of motivation to go all the way.
Here we take a look at Uruguay's 23-man squad and pick what the probable starting XI will be for the Copa America:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Martín Campaña (Independiente, ARG), Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray, TUR), Martín Silva (Vasco da Gama, BRA)DEFENDERS (6): Jorge Fucile (Nacional, URU), Jose Giménez (Atlético Madrid, ESP), Diego Godín, (Atlético Madrid, ESP), Maximiliano Pereira (Porto, POR), Gastón Silva (Torino, ITA), Mauricio Victorino (Nacional, URU)MIDFIELDERS (8): Egidio Arévalo Rios (Atlas, MEX), Matías Corujo (Universidad de Chile, CHI), Álvaro González (Atlas, MEX), Alvaro Pereira (Getafe, ESP), Gastón Ramírez (Middlesbrough, ENG), Diego Laxalt (Genoa, ITA), Carlos Sánchez (Monterrey, MEX), Matías Vecino (Fiorentina, ITA)FORWARDS (6): Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-German, FRA), Abel Hernández (Hull City, ENG), Nicolás Lodeiro (Boca Juniors, ARG), Diego Rolán (Bordeaux, FRA), Cristhian Stuani (Middlesbrough, ENG), Luis Suárez (Barcelona, ESP).
Formation: 4-4-2
Goalkeeper – Fernando Muslera
Fernando Muslera has been Uruguay's custodian at the back in the past few major tournaments and is set to make a start owing to his big match experience. The 29-year-old is well known to make saves from close range shots. In the 2015/16 season, Muslera made a total of 166 saves in 41 appearances, with 85 of those coming from shots inside the penalty area.
Playing football with Galatasaray, Muslera’s experience facing top strikers from Europe will hold him in good stead in order to help the La Celeste in their quest for glory. Although Muslera does not have a great distribution success rate, with 66%, his ability to make crucial saves will be important for Uruguay.
Defenders
With Champions League runners-up, Diego Godin and Jose Giménez part of the roster, it seems that the duo will start at the back of the defence in all possibility. It will help Uruguay's case in that Godin and Gimenez have played together at Atletico Madrid and their partnership could be vital to their side's success.
Maxi Pereira and Alvaro Pereira are set to play the roles of full-backs. Maxi is currently the player with the highest number of international appearances for Uruguay, with 111 to his name. In addition to tracking back, Maxi's influence while going forward will be important for La Celeste.
Estudiantes defender, Alvaro is most likely to start at left-back. He moved to Getafe on loan in February 2016 and featured six times for them. With an ability to play as a left-midfielder too, Uruguay can expect a lot of service from the left flank.
Midfielders
If there is one area that Uruguay would be concerned about, it will be the midfield with not many known faces picked in the final squad. A lot will rest on the young shoulders of Fiorentina midfielder, Matias Vecino's shoulders as he will look to boss the midfield. Vecino had a pass success rate of 87.7% in the 2015/16 season underlining his effectiveness with the ball.
With veteran Arevalo Rios doing the dirty work by looking to break up the opponents’ play, Vecino might have the liberty to carry the ball forward and be involved in attacking. 31-year-old Monterrey midfielder, Carlos Sanchez will be playing on the right flank linking up with the marauding right-back, Maxi Pereira.
On the left-flank, Diego Laxalt, the 23-year-old midfielder from Genoa, is the most likely starter after having an impressive season with the Italian club. In 35 appearances in the Serie A, Laxalt scored 3 goals and made 4 assists. He will add more value to the Uruguay squad with his ability to track back and help out the defence.
Forwards
The attacking line of Uruguay is what will put most fear in the minds of opponents. Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani are most likely to feature in a two-man forward lineup. Suarez's form this year needs no special mention as he was immense for Barcelona in the 2015/16 season.
In 50 appearances, the 29-year-old scored 58 goals and had 19 assists to his name. Suarez undoubtedly won the Pichichi Trophy, thus becoming the first player other than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award since fellow-countryman Diego Forlan did in 2009. If Uruguay even have a chance to win the Copa America, a lot will rest on Suarez’s abilities to decimate the opposition defence.
On the other hand, Edinson Cavani did not have the ‘best’ of seasons with Paris Saint-Germain with fellow forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic having overshadowed the Uruguayan. Despite that, Cavani scored 28 goals in 54 appearances. Along with Suarez, Cavani will look to torment defenders and help La Celeste win their fifth Copa America title.
