Uruguay began training for the qualifying matches against Brazil and Peru with most of their players in camp, although the presence of Luis Suarez after a nearly two year absence was the talk of the day.
Uruguay began training for the qualifying matches against Brazil and Peru with most of their players in camp, although the presence of Luis Suarez after a nearly two year absence was the talk of the day.
The Barcelona striker appeared relaxed and joked with teammates during the first training for the matches against Brazil in Recife (northeast) on March 25, and Peru at home on the 29th.
– The Best Reinforcement –
Tabarez confirmed his statements that Suarez would be the best reinforcement for any team in the qualifiers.
"He is playing well for Barcelona. He has overcome challenges and obviously his numbers speak for themselves," summed up the coach at a press conference on Monday.
Suarez "comes with all that on his mind and not being on the team for a long time. One of the goals we set is that he thinks only about playing football," said Tabarez.
The coach also said the striker "will play against teams that know his potential and will do everything possible to limit him."
The coach said that Brazil will be a "tough game". "We will try to control their strengths and create problems," he summarized, while saying that the Brazilians went from "less to more" in the qualifiers.
– Uruguayan Triage –
Beyond having Suarez and Edinson Cavani in his back pocket, Tabarez has the difficult challenge of filling spaces in his defense after an unusual accumulation of injuries and suspensions.
The coach acknowledged that the situation poses problems for Uruguay, but hoped to overcome the challenge.
"It is an obstacle," Tabarez said at a news conference after practice on Monday. "(We) try to prepare as best as possible for this very important game against Brazil," a rival that "we have to try to limit because it has many strengths."
Uruguay will "seek points," Tabarez said and promised "a game with intensity."
A black cloud seems to fly over the head of the Uruguayan national team.
As if losing captain Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid, Spain) through a muscle injury was not enough, three other injuries ocurred.
First, the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) announced that Emiliano Velázquez (Getafe/Spain) will be out because "of a muscle injury in the hamstring of the right leg."
In his place the coach called up Mauricio Victorino from local club Nacional.
A few hours later, the Uruguayan fans found out that José Giménez went down with a similar injury than his teammate Godin on Atletico Madrid.
To complete the dismal picture, winger Mathías Corujo, of Universidad de Chile, was operated on for appendicitis on Saturday which also leaves him out for these two qualifying games.
Tabarez summoned in his place center-back Diego Polenta, captain of Nacional who was shaky in training on Monday at the Celeste Complex, on the outskirts of Montevideo.
Defender Maximiliano Pereira is also unable to play for accumulation of yellow cards. So Uruguay will bet on its two star strikers Cavani and Suarez.
Uruguay will travel on Wednesday to Recife, according to the plan presented by the AUF.
Uruguay is in second place behind Ecuador, who has perfect score of 12 points.
Text and photo: AFP
Edition: conmebol.com
