World Cup 2018 power rankings
By James Dudko
8. Uruguay
If Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani are given enough license to create and score goals, Uruguay will go far. Few nations have a better one-two punch at striker than Barcelona No. 9 Suarez and Paris Saint-Germain goal machine Cavani.
Uruguay’s biggest challenge at this World Cup will be to not hold their best players back. Striking the right balance between being solid defensively and progressive enough going forward is something coach Oscar Tabarez hasn’t always got right.
It would be a shame to see Tabarez’s cagey approach waste the new-found artisty obvious in the Uruguay midfield. In particular, Juventus gem Rodrigo Bentancur is a burgeoning pass-master who needs to be let off the leash.
It’s a similar story for Sampdoria’s Lucas Torreira. He’s been linked with Arsenal, Liverpool and Juve after an eye-opening campaign in Serie A.
For a rare time in recent years, Uruguay have the right mix of steel and silk. The squad should saunter through Group A, but will go a lot further if Tabarez loosens his grip.