Uruguay's coach says experience important for World Cup

Montevideo (Uruguay), April 16 (IANS) Uruguay’s football coach Oscar Tabarez said his players’ previous FIFA World Cup experience would be an advantage at the 2014 edition in Brazil.

Tabarez said Tuesday that while several members of the line-up didn’t play in South Africa, a likely core of the team did, reports Xinhua.

Footballers like Luis Suarez, Diego Perez, Diego Forlan and Sebastian Abreu played in South Africa four years ago where the team achieved a respectable fourth-place finish.

Importantly, the team has recovered from the slump it went through during qualification rounds in late 2012 and early 2013.

Asked about Suarez, who plays for Liverpool, and Edinson Cavani from Paris Saint Germain, Tabarez said the two seasoned footballers were in good shape.

“They are at their physical peak,” said the coach.

Uruguay, regional champions in 2011, is in Group D along with Costa Rica, England and Italy at the World Cup. The team came through the South American qualification round to rank fifth and succeeded in advancing to the Cup only after playing Jordan in a repechage match.

The World Cup will take place from June 12 to July 13 with 32 teams playing 64 games in 12 different cities.