Uruguay are the smallest country to have won the World Cup, and they have done it twice, in 1930 and 1950. With Federico Valverde running midfield at Real Madrid and Darwin Núñez causing panic in defences, La Celeste believe they have the players for a third star. Marcelo Bielsa, perhaps the most tactically obsessive manager the game has known, has turned them into a pressing machine that runs further and fights harder than almost anyone.
Ronald Araújo completes the spine, and Uruguay sit around 11th in the FIFA ranking.
Who makes Bielsa's Uruguay tick?
Valverde is one of the best midfielders in world football. He scores, he defends, and he seems to cover every blade of grass at Real Madrid. Núñez is chaos in a good way: pace, unpredictable finishing and movement that defenders hate. Araújo is a rock at the back for Barcelona, strong in the air and never shy of a physical contest.
Then there is the pressing. Bielsa's system asks players to outrun and outwork every opponent, and Uruguay usually do. Add the history of two world titles and a famous fighting spirit, the garra charrúa, and you have a side few people are talking about but many should worry about.
They are not the favourites. With Valverde driving them, Núñez unsettling defenders and Bielsa outthinking opposite numbers, a semi-final place is well within reach.
Tomorrow: number 9.
