One reason every team at the World Cup can win
By Ty Finch
Uruguay: Goals, lots of goals
Uruguay currently have two of the best goalscorers in the world playing for them during the primes of their respective careers. Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani are both 31 years old and could be playing in their final World Cup, depending on their fitness. They’ll both have to score a lot of goals for this team to advance far in the World Cup.
Suarez and Cavani both play for the highest-scoring clubs in Europe at the moment. Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are top of La Liga and Ligue 1 in goals scored, with PSG simply blowing every other club in their league out of the water. Suarez has 21 goals and nine assists in all competitions, while Cavani has 31 goals and five assists in total. Cavani also lead the CONMEBOL qualifying with 10 goals, three more than the next highest scorer.
Uruguay combine a solid mix of experience, youthful energy and talent that can frustrate opposing offenses when they’re on top of their game. However, even while finishing second in CONMEBOL qualifying behind Brazil, Uruguay let in 20 goals in 18 matches, the worst record among automatic qualifiers.
It’s no secret either that Suarez will do whatever it takes to win; be it biting, taunting or playing goalie as a field player, as his intentional handball in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals against Ghana allowed Uruguay the chance to win on penalty kicks. While La Celeste faithful will hope that won’t be necessary again, it’s at least comforting to know your star player is also the most competitive.