Following a disappointing qualifying group campaign, where the first ever World Cup winners Uruguay needed a play-off to book their place in Brazil, they have the opportunity to repeat the heroics of the 1950 finals win in the same country.

Los Charruas missed out on automatic qualification from the CONMEBAL section due to a inferior goal difference to Ecuador, resulting in a two-legged play-off against Jordan where the overwhelming favourites eased their way into the finals with a 5-0 win on aggregate.

Oscar Tabarez will manage his country for the second time at a World Cup finals and will be hoping to improve on a fourth-placed finish four years ago. Placed in group D with Italy, England and Costa Rica, the Uruguayans are likely to battle it out with the former two nations for progression into the last 16.

In the only game since sealing qualification Tabarez’ side were held to a 1-1 draw with Austria earlier in the year, with Alvaro Pereira grabbing the equaliser mid-way through the second half. 

The semi-finalists from four years ago suffered a huge blow late last week when Liverpool’s Luis Suarez underwent surgery on his knee, leaving the Premier League top scorer with a race against the clock to be fit for the opener against Costa Rica on June 14.

Losing their all time leading scorer will be a massive blow to their hopes of winning the tournament but in Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan, La Celeste still pose a goal threat to go deep into the competition.

The squad shows no real surprises, Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates is included after proving his fitness on loan at Nacional after missing the start of the season through injury, as is Diego Godin who has been in superb form this season, scoring the goal to clinch a first La Liga title in 18 years for Atletico Madrid as well as scoring the opening goal in the final against Real Madrid on Saturday.