This World will be the witness of the relay between the vestiges of the glorious Uruguay of the past decade and the foundations of the new Celeste.
Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani or even Diego Godin will play what looks like their last World Cup.
It will be the first of the generation led by Federico Valverde and Darwin Nunez.
Anecdote
If the Celeste has two World Cups to her credit, she displays four stars on her jersey.
The reason ?
Uruguay won the gold medal at the 1924 and 1928 Olympic Games. The football tournament there was then co-organized by Fifa before the latter launched the first edition of the World Cup in 1930.
Form of the Uruguay team
Third in qualifying for the Amsud zone behind Brazil and Argentina, Rodrigo Bentancur and his teammates have bounced back after finishing 2021 with four losses.
Undefeated this year until the quack against Iran (0-1) in September, Uruguay has the weapons to get out of this group H. Despite the uncertainties around Ronald Araujo or Cavani, Diego Alonso can bet on the famous youth-experience cocktail.
Valverde (24), Nunez (23) and Facundo Pellistri (20) have not abandoned the "garra charrua", a style of play combining grinta and mental strength so far maintained by Suarez (35) and others.
The list of 26 players summoned
Announced package, Ronald Araujo will finally be on the trip.
Alonso therefore takes an injured player to Qatar.
The coach has gathered all the experience at his disposal with Godin, Suarez, Caceres and Cavani, who has missed Valencia's last two games with an ankle injury.
Goalkeepers:
Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray/Turkey), Sergio Rochet (Nacional Montevideo/Uruguay), Santiago Sosa (Atlanta United/USA)
Defenders:
José María Giménez (Atlético Madrid/Spain), Sebastián Coates (Sporting/Portugal), Diego Godín (Velez Sarsfield/Uruguay), Martín Cáceres (Los Angeles Galaxy/USA), Ronald Araujo (FC Barcelona/Spain), Guillermo Varela (Flamengo/Brazil), José Luis Rodríguez (Nacional/Uruguay), Mathías Olivera (Naples/Italy), Matías Viña (AS Roma/Italy)
Midfielders:
Lucas Torreira (Galatasaray/Turkey), Manuel Ugarte (Sporting CP/Portugal), Matías Vecino (Lazio Rome/Italy), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham/England), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid/Spain), Facundo Pellistri (Manchester United /England), Agustín Canobbio (Athletico Paranaense/Brazil), Facundo Torres (Orlando City/USA), Nicolás de la Cruz (CA River Plate/Argentina), Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Flamengo/Brazil),
Forwards:
Luis Suarez (Nacional/Uruguay), Edinson Cavani (Valencia/Spain), Darwin Nunez (Liverpool/England), Maxi Gómez (Trabzonspor/Turkey)
The probable composition
LP
Already a monster of combativeness, Valverde (Real) has become a player capable of creating differences.
Practical, Suarez needs support around him and Nunez is not a technical Mozart.
The presence of Cavani will force Alonso to choose between his centre-forwards.
Coming off the bench or in the 11th, Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo) will also bring creativity to a rather well-equipped squad to shine without the ball.
Player to watch: Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez (here in 2018) is the top scorer in the history of Celeste (66 goals).
After two seasons at Atlético de Madrid, El Pistolero joined his training club in July to keep fit until Qatar.
Suarez contributed 4 goals and 3 assists in the Nacional's strong start to the season.
The top scorer in the history of La Celeste (66 goals) no longer has his Liverpool canes but his killer instinct, his back-to-goal game and the motivation offered by the selection's coat of arms could offset the weight of the years.