World Cup preview: Uruguay leaning on two-pronged attack, youth injection

Familiar, menacing faces will once again threaten Uruguay's World Cup opponents, and La Celeste will also have some intimidating new blood in its ranks when it heads to Russia.

Uruguay breezed through CONMEBOL's qualification process, accruing 31 points and finishing second only to a Brazil side that steamrolled the competition. By finishing ahead of South American heavyweights Argentina, Colombia, and Chile (which failed to clinch even an intercontinental play-off spot), the first-ever World Cup champion booked its 13th appearance at the quadrennial extravaganza.

Group schedule

Projected starting XI

Uruguay's threat primarily lies in its two-pronged attack of Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, but Atletico Madrid teammates Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez are also as strong as close-knit centre-back pairings come. To accentuate its advantages, expect Uruguay to roll with its offensive-minded but tried and true 4-4-2.

With just four caps remaining until the century mark, stalwart Fernando Muslera will take up his usual role between the posts, while touted Serie A duo Rodrigo Bentancur and Matias Vecino pull the strings deep in midfield, looking to find Suarez or Cavani when possible. Any changes will likely come on the wings. Martin Caceres and Maxi Pereira are the veteran incumbents at left-back and right-back, respectively, but in recent friendlies, Uruguay's started 25-year-olds Diego Laxalt and Guillermo Varela instead.

Related: Full squad lists for each nation

Manager: Oscar Tabarez

Uruguay's 71-year-old manager is heading into his third World Cup since being hired for a second time as La Celeste boss in 2006. That rare managerial longevity is merited; Tabarez led Uruguay to fourth place in 2010, the nation's highest World Cup finish in 40 years, and followed that up by conquering Uruguay's 15th Copa America in 2011. And though his side was bounced by Colombia in the 2014 World Cup's round of 16, Tabarez did steer Uruguay out of a difficult group at both England's and Italy's expense.

Key player: Luis Suarez

Suarez is not unaccustomed to portraying the villain, and he's more than happy to chow down on the role again - if it benefits his country.

When Suarez is on the pitch for Uruguay, their shared tournament history is convincing. At the last two World Cups, Uruguay did not lose until it had to play without the talismanic striker due to suspension (first for his sacrificial handball against Ghana, then for munching Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder). At the 2011 Copa America, Suarez played every minute, but he missed the 2015 edition due to the biting ban and the 2016 Centenario because of a hamstring issue.

Uruguay's hopes may well fall on Suarez's shoulders. He just has to stay on the pitch.

Breakout star: Rodrigo Bentancur

A product of Boca Juniors' youth academy, Bentancur is a recent addition to La Celeste's lineup. He only made his senior international debut in October, but his performances with Juventus this season, though sparse, may already have cemented the 20-year-old's spot in Tabarez's starting XI.

A deep-lying distributor who enjoys getting forward, Bentancur's patience on the ball and vision is an asset that, when partnered by Vecino, has completely transformed Uruguay's style. The Juventus starlet could make a case for the tournament's Best Young Player Award when all is said and done.

Fans should be happy if ...

A lot needs to go right for Uruguay to make a deep run, though Tabarez's men have the quality to make it possible. While they should have little issue in the group stage, Uruguay can already assure itself of a date with either Spain or Portugal in the round of 16.

If La Celeste can progress to the quarter-finals at the expense of either of the Iberian sides, a last-eight appearance is nothing to scoff at, and Uruguayans should be satisfied with their squad's showing. From there, the country would likely need to orchestrate a World Cup upset of historic proportions - or embrace a little luck in the bracket - in order to progress further.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)