Uruguay’s roster is full of important Fantasy assets for this summer’s World Cup, with premium players in attack and defence.
The favourites to win Group A look capable of scoring plenty of goals and can offer decent potential for clean sheets too.
In fact, the stars seem to be aligning to allow the sleeping South American giants a good chance of World Cup glory this summer.
Road to Qualification
Uruguay qualified for Russia as the best of South America’s rest after Brazil dominated the 10-team round robin.
They started the campaign strongly, seeing off both Chile and Colombia by a 3-0 scoreline in the early months, before drawing 2-2 in Brazil. However, manager Oscar Tabarez was forced to radically change the make-up of his team in the second half of the 18-match programme after losing three crucial matches in a row. Between October 2016 and March 2017 La Celeste were heavily defeated by Chile and Brazil before recording a morale-denting loss in Peru. Hoping to find some form last summer, Uruguay travelled to Europe for friendlies against Republic of Ireland and Italy only to be beaten 3-1 and 3-0 respectively.
Tabarez went back to the drawing board and ended up creating a side arguably more dangerous than it’s ever been in his 12-year tenure as manager. It’s a squad that still has the experience of their journey to the semi-finals in 2010 but a much faster defence and stronger control elements in midfield.
In the past, Uruguay were happy to allow their opponents more possession but, with the emergence of Matias Vecino and young Federico Valverde in central midfield, they hold onto the ball much more, therefore increasing the threat of the already intensely dangerous Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.
After those changes Uruguay took eight points from the final four qualifying games and, in the end, only Brazil (41) scored more than their goal tally of 32, averaging 1.77 per match.
They come to Russia full of confidence that they can win Group A and go deep into the tournament. Diego Godin’s well-organised defence, allied with the goal threat of Suarez and Cavani, have finally been joined together by the one thing Uruguay have always missed: a possession-based creative midfield. Those who have followed Uruguay in the last 12 months believe them to be the World Cup’s dark horses.
Conmebol Qualifying
Most starts: Fernando Muslera (17), Diego Godin (16), Edinson Cavani (15), Carlos Sanchez (14), Luis Suarez (13).
Most goals: Cavani (10), Suarez (5), Godin, Martin Caceres (both 3).
Most assists: Suarez (8), Sanchez (7).
The Key Targets
Luis Suarez (£10.5m on McDonald’s FIFA World Cup Fantasy) is the standout Fantasy option among Uruguay’s impressive ranks, offering both goals and assists in abundance.
Despite starting much fewer international matches than the team’s other key players in the last two years, he’s been involved in more goals than any of them other than Edinson Cavani (£9.5m), who he’s level with on 14. The Barcelona man’s strength as a Fantasy asset appears to be his multiple avenues for points, combining eight goals of his own with six assists – as well as being the designated penalty-taker. Meanwhile, Paris Saint German striker Cavani is all about finding the back of the net, having done so 12 times across qualifying, 2016’s Copa America and friendlies played since August 5, 2017. He takes the penalties when Suarez is absent.
Diego Godin (£5.5m) is, not surprisingly, the headline name in defence. The experienced centre-back is the leader in a rearguard that has kept 12 clean sheets in their last 25 matches. It has got stronger since Godin began playing alongside Atletico Madrid club-mate Jose Giminez (£5.5m) and is probably the only defence in Group A capable of cutting off Mohamed Salah’s Egypt supply lines in their opening fixture. Saudi Arabia are unlikely to trouble Godin and company while Russia could be held at bay by Uruguay’s possession-based style. The Atletico Madrid man is worth the extra money for his goal threat too. Since October 2015, only Suarez and Cavani have scored more times for the national side than Godin (four), who benefits from the team’s strength at set-pieces. Against Saudi Arabia, who have just one player in their probable starting XI over six foot tall, Godin’s threat could profit at corners or free-kicks.
If you want to capitalise on Uruguay’s clean-sheet potential in the goalkeeper department then Fernando Muslera (£5.5m) has missed just three of the last 25 internationals.
The Long Shots
Attacking midfielder Carlos Sanchez (£7.5m) could be an incredibly effective budget enabler for Fantasy managers during the World Cup if he can reclaim his place in the team under Tabarez’s new direction. The 33-year-old recorded eight assists for Uruguay across qualifying, Copa America and recent friendly matches – level with Suarez. His skill at set-pieces is the main reason why Godin and Martin Caceres (£5.5m) are on the score-sheet so often. Vecino (£6.0m) was preferred in the middle for all four of Uruguay’s recent friendlies so make sure you inspect the team selection when they host Uzbekistan next month.
Full-backs Guillermo Varela (£4.5m) and Diego Laxalt (£5.5m) are recent additions to the side but could head to Russia as first-choice options. The pair are a little untested, Varela has started three matches, Laxalt just two, but they are an important part of Uruguay’s transformation. They were introduced as more advanced wing-backs to press high and contribute to the team’s new-found preference for possession.
Neither has produced a goal or an assist yet but as La Celeste grow increasingly more comfortable with their new style, they could start to profit from playing so high up the pitch. Varela looks the better investment on McDonald’s FIFA World Cup Fantasy with Laxalt classified as a midfielder, but their value may differ on FIFA’s official game.
Upcoming Friendlies
June 7: Uruguay v Uzbekistan (Montevideo)
Further Analysis
Our comprehensive World Cup guide can be found here.
Group A – Egypt, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group B – Iran, Morocco, Portugal, Spain
Group C – Australia, Peru, France, Denmark
Group D – Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
Group E – Brazil, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Serbia
Group F – Mexico, Germany, Sweden, South Korea
Group G – Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
Group H – Senegal, Japan, Poland, Colombia
Our editor’s Fantasy World Cup tips as told to Proper Sport
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