Uruguay unveils lineup for World Cup qualifiers

Montevideo (Uruguay), March 15 (IANS): Uruguay’s national football team coach Oscar Tabarez unveiled the squad of 26 players that will take part in qualification matches against Paraguay and Chile in the lead up to the 2014 Brazil World Cup.

The lineup features Liverpool forward Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani (Napoli, Italy) and Diego Forlan (Internacional, Brazil), as well as defender and team captain Diego Lugano (Malaga, Spain) and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray SK, Turkey).

One of Uruguay’s biggest football stars, Sebastian Abreu (Club Nacional de Football, Uruguay), will not be taking part in coming matches.

Uruguay will play Paraguay here March 22, then play Chile in Santiago March 26. Both are key games for Uruguay to qualify to Brazil 2014.

Following is the squad:

Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray SK, Turkey), Martin Silva (Club Olimpia, Paraguay) and Juan Castillo (Danubio, Uruguay).

Defenders: Diego Lugano (Malaga, Spain), Diego Godin (Club Atletico de Madrid, Spain), Sebastian Coates (Liverpool, England), Andres Scotti (Club Nacional de Football, Uruguay), Alejandro Silva (Club Olimpia, Paraguay), Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica, Portugal), Martin Caceres (Juventus, Italy), Alvaro Gonzalez (Lazio, Italy), Alvaro Pereira (Inter Milan, Italy).

Midfielders: Diego Perez (Bologna, Italy), Walter Gargano (Inter Milan, Italy), Matias Aguirregaray (Penarol, Uruguay), Egidio Arevalo Rios (Citta di Palermo, Italy), Alvaro Fernandez (Al Rayyan, Qatar), Cristian Rodriguez (Club Atletico de Madrid, Spain), Sebastian Eguren (Club Libertad, Paraguay), Gaston Ramirez (Southhampton, England), Nicolas Lodeiro (Botafogo de Futebol, Brazil).

Forwards: Luis Suarez (Liverpool, England), Edinson Cavani (Napoli, Italy), Diego Forlan (Internacional, Brazil), Christian Stuani (Espanyol, Spain), Sebastian Fernandez (Malaga, Spain).