Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez believes his team has two key advantages in Brazil: its Confederations Cup experience there last year and the near-perfect footballing age of its key players.
Luis Suarez, Uruguay's record scorer with 39 goals, and strike partner Edinson Cavani are both 27.
He would not go as far as saying that Uruguay can repeat its 1950 World Cup success in Brazil, but he would not rule out reaching the latter stages, as it did in South Africa four years ago.
Uruguay's World Cup exploits in Brazil 64 years ago hold great memories for the country but bad memories for Brazilian fans old enough to remember the pain of losing the decider at the 1950 finals - the only other time Brazil has hosted the football extravaganza.
The 2-1 victory over Brazil on July 16, 1950, known as the Maracanazo, gave Uruguay its second title. It might even give Tabarez's team inspiration in a tight group that includes former champions Italy and England as well as Central American outsiders Costa Rica.
"What happened in 1950 was a long time ago, a different era," Tabarez told Reuters in a recent interview, "but it won't be easy to beat us. Brazil found it hard to beat us last year. We could cause some surprises and go a long way."
Last year's Confederations Cup gave the reigning South American champions experience of the conditions teams can expect at the tournament, including climate at venues separated in some cases by thousands of kilometres.
Stable set-up
Continuity is the key for this Uruguayan generation, benefiting from a stable setup under Tabarez, who, in his second spell since 2006, will be the longest-serving coach at the finals.
Tabarez has said he feels no guilt espousing defensive tactics, telling Reuters: "We work very well in defence. I love that kind of thing. I'm not ashamed, as if to play defensively were a bad word.
"Football is defence and attack and attacking is very much linked to what one does in defence, and we don't have a team to take the game to our opponents nor that many players.
"As a small country we don't have many options. When you find something that works for you, you stick to it," he said.
The reliable Fernando Muslera is still in goal and the defence is still built around captain Diego Lugano, partnered in the centre by a maturing Diego Godin, with Maxi Pereira at right back and Martin
Caceres on the left, which points to a settled if not hugely gifted side.
Generational turnover comes in the form mainly of forwards Gaston Ramirez and Christian Stuani, while Nicolas Lodeiro is a more creative alternative to Cristian Rodriguez in the attacking midfield role.
Uruguay is more than the sum of its parts even if it boasts one of the world's best players in Suarez, who had an exceptional season with Liverpool with all the attributes of a match-winner.
The Driving Force: Oscar Tabarez
“The new generation has always received a subliminal message that the champions were those at the Maracana and that nothing we do today can equal that feat.” This quote from Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez sums up the weight of history that his team has to carry.
But it is under El Maestro (the Teacher) that the team, which was struggling at the international level a decade ago, has undergone a remarkable transformation and is now a serious challenger.
Following the semifinal run in the last edition, Tabarez also guided Uruguay to its first title in 16 years when it won the 2011 Copa America title.
The importance of the victory can be gauged by a letter written by an 80-year-old woman to him. In that she said that though she had never liked football, she was overcome by a desire to embrace the throngs of fans celebrating on the streets.
For a team and country which has always embraced individual flair over other aspects, Tabarez has fostered a sense of unity and placed an emphasis on nurturing youth.
His response on being asked how he handles stars in his team was: “When I want to see the stars, I look at the sky.”
That in a nutshell describes the man.
Star Watch: Luis Suarez (27), striker, 77 caps, 39 goals
“Uruguay is not a one-man team,” reckons Sunderland manager Gus Poyet. While it certainly isn’t, the potential for damage that can be caused by one man’s absence is unfathomable. Although Luis Suarez made the
final squad, no certain date has been set for his return as he recovers from a knee operation.
One can be certain that Oscar Tabarez had the Liverpool forward in mind when he described his World Cup plans – “I have the intention of using the experience that most of the players have acquired.”
Suarez certainly gained much experience in England as he was part of a close title race that Liverpool eventually lost. Nevertheless, he finished with 31 goals in the league.
Suarez scored 11 times during World Cup qualifying as well, becoming Uruguay’s all-time top-scorer in the process. The 27-year-old’s pace, skill, strength and unpredictability have made him one of the most
feared strikers in the world. However, the pressure of leading the side’s attack will test him severely in Brazil.
Keep an eye on: Diego Godin (28), centre-back, 76 caps, 3 goals
Diego Godin is perhaps as important to Oscar Tabarez’s plans as Luis Suarez or Edinson Cavani. After an excellent season with Atletico Madrid, his standing within the national side and world football has
been significantly elevated. Godin is recognised as a serene defender who combines his immaculate positioning sense with a unique combativeness.
Not to forget the 28-year-old’s aerial prowess that grants him potency at both ends of the pitch. Indeed, it was his goal against Barcelona that ensured Atletico won the La Liga title. Godin followed it up with
another headed strike in the Champions League final, although it wasn’t enough to stop Real Madrid. This season, the centre-back made an impressive 6.9 clearances per match in all competitions for Atletico.
In Brazil, Godin will be expected to do more than his usual defensive duties. His leadership skills will be vital as Uruguay faces Italy and England in the group stage. Moreover, the sometimes unreliable Diego Lugano will be his partner and Godin may have to undertake a greater share of defensive work.
Blast from the Past (1950)
The final of 1950, despite never being telecast and only sparsely reported by the European press, has firmly established itself as one of the most spectacular vignettes of World Cup history. Uruguay’s come-from-behind victory— in the hostile surroundings of the Maracana, filled to the brim by the vociferous 210,000-strong home supporters, against a marauding Brazilian side – stands tall as one of the finest testaments of the triumph of will.
Led by the inspirational Obdulio Varela, Uruguay stunned the world by scoring twice, in the 66th (Juan Alberto Schiaffino) and 79th minute (Alcides Ghiggia), for a remarkable 2-1 win over the favourite, which had gone ahead through a Friaca strike in the 47th minute.
FIFA president Jules Rimet, escorted by crying law enforcement officers and clearly rattled by the surrounding gloominess, handed Varela the trophy without much fanfare. The Uruguayan captain,
however, was not daunted by the anger of the Brazilian public and went out for a drink in the town. “There was such sadness among the fans I decided to go into a bar and have a drink with them. When they
realised who I was I thought they were going to kill me. Fortunately, I couldn’t have been more wrong. They congratulated me and we had a few drinks together,” he later recalled.
