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Defending Copa America champions Uruguay kick start their campaign against Jamaica on 13 June. They have won the tournament a record 15 times – more than any other team. But it will be difficult to add to that tally this time; two players – Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez – who played a major role in the 2011 Copa America triumph won’t be present at 2015 Chile.
Forlan, 38, retired from international football in March and Luis Suarez is still serving the ban he got for biting Italy defender Girogio Chiellini during the 2014 World Cup. Suarez would be a big miss for the ‘Celesete’ as he has been in stunning form for Barcelona this season with 24 goals and 17 assists. He is also the record goalscorer for Uruguay.
Coach Tabarez has said that they have appealed to get the ban annulled, but as of now Suarez won’t be part of the 23-man final squad for the Copa America. Tabarez has changed his usual policy of selecting experienced players this time by dropping veterans like former captain Diego Lugano, Diego Perez and Walter Gargano.
PSG star Edinson Cavani who will be expected to lead the attack and he will be supported by Christian Stuani (Espanyol) and Abel Hernandez (Hull City) in the striking department. But it would be 22-year-old Diego Rolan whom Uruguay supporters would be excited to see after he scored 16 goals last season for Bordeaux in Ligue 1. He is a versatile attacking player with an eye for goal and can play as an attacking midfielder, on the wing or as a striker.
It would be up to the experienced duo of Edigo Arevalo Rios and Alvaro Gonzalez to marshall the midfield with Nicolás Lodeiro and Cristian Rodriguez providing the vision and attacking threat. Most of the remaining midfielders are all relatively inexperienced but a lot is expected from the attacking midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta. Gaston Ramirez of Southampton misses out due to an injury.
Defence is probably their strongest unit with a mix of experience and youth. Atletico’s Diego Godin will be expected to hold the defence together along with his young teammate Jose Gimenez and experienced wing backs like Maxi Pereira and Alvaro Pereira. Young Torino left back Gaston Silva might get a chance to redeem himself after an average Serie A season. Sebastian Coates is also included in the squad. One big blow for Uruguay would be the absence of Martin Caceres of Juventus, who misses out due to an ankle fracture.
Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando Muslera has been permanent fixture in Uruguay lineup for the past few years and is expected to be in the starting eleven. He has been linked with Manchester United recently as a possible replacement for De Gea, so Copa America would be a good stage show the world once more that he can deliver on the big stage.
If Uruguay are to retain the championship despite the absentees, it would be a massive achievement for Tabarez.
Uruguay squad for Copa America
Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martín Silva (Vasco da Gama), Rodrigo Muñoz (Libertad)
Defenders: Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica), José María Giménez (Atletico Madrid), Diego Godín (Atletico Madrid), Sebastián Coates (Sunderland), Gastón Silva (Torino), Álvaro Pereira (Estudiantes LP), Mathías Corujo (Universidad de Chile), Jorge Fucile (Nacional-URU)
Midfielders: Álvaro González (Torino), Carlos Sánchez (River Plate-ARG), Egidio Arévalo Ríos (Tigres), Guzmán Pereira (Universidad de Chile), Nicolas Lodeiro (Boca Juniors), Cristian Rodríguez (Atlético Madrid), Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Cruzeiro)
Strikers: Diego Rolan (Bordeaux), Jonathan Rodríguez (Benfica), Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain), Cristhian Stuani (Espanyol), Abel Hernández (Hull City)
