The Uruguayan Football Association have, late on Thursday, announced the country’s travelling squad for the fast-approaching World Cup, featuring a whole host of high-profile names.
La Celeste will of course make the trip to Qatar as heavy outsiders in the tournament, on the back of a qualifying campaign which saw them finish in third in the CONMEBOL standings, but completely outshone by both Brazil and Argentina.
Nevertheless, Diego Alonso’s ranks feature a vast array of stars from across world football, many of whom ply their trade at Europe’s top clubs.
As expected, taking their place on the plane to Qatar will be the likes of Fernando Muslera, Diego Godin, Jose Maria Gimenez and Martin Caceres.
The headline inclusion at the back, though, comes in the form of Ronald Araujo.
Stopper Araujo had long been labelled as a major doubt to take his place at world football’s headline showpiece, after being forced under the knife to solve an injury issue suffered during the most recent international break.
Ronald Araujo during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano at Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain. (Alamy Stock Photo)
Moving further up the pitch, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Torreira and Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde take their place amongst a solid crop of midfield options.
And the star names only continue to come to the fore in the attacking third, with Uruguayan icons Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani joined by Darwin Nunez, the big-money summer arrival at Liverpool.
Also amongst the Celeste’s options in Qatar, meanwhile, will be Manchester United talent Facundo Pellistri.
After a 2nd successive loan spell in Spain with Alaves last season, wide-man Pellistri returned to base in Manchester during the summer.
And, despite failing to take to the pitch on a single occasion since, Diego Alonso evidently feels as though the 20-year-old’s abilities make his inclusion for the World Cup an altogether necessary one.
Check out Uruguay’s squad bound for Qatar later this month in full below:
📋 𝗟𝗔 𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔
Los 26 seleccionados para defender a Uruguay en la Copa del Mundo.
🇶🇦 @FIFAWorldCup #ElEquipoQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/BS8EqdRr1n
— Selección Uruguaya (@Uruguay) November 10, 2022
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