Uruguay

After beating Costa Rica in the South America vs CONCACAF play-off match Uruguay booked their place in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Uruguay, typical of the qualifying South American nations have tightened their defence over the last 8 years since they last qualified for football’s showpiece event and with strikers who on their day offer plenty of experience and plenty of goals might not be as easy to beat as you’d think.

More experienced players like striker Diego Forlan of Athletico Madrid and defender and captain Diego Lugano of Fenerbache will be mentoring youngsters such as Luis Suarez and Diego Godin as they try and make up for lost time since 2002.

Star Player - Diego Forlan

While English fans may remember Forlan as the Manchester United striker who flopped, taking 27 games to score his first goal, in Spain however, he is known by many as a prolific striker at the top of his game.

Despite his torrid time in England, Forlan has put his demons behind him and last season for Athletico Madrid he scored 32 league goals in 33 games winning him the European Golden Boot and the La Liga Pichichi Trophy.

Alongside youngster Luis Suarez, Uruguay appear to have one of the most lethal strike forces at the World Cup.

Coach - Oscar Tabarez

The Uruguayan coach, Tabarez has a wealth of experience managing in Uruguay, Italy, Spain and Argentina and is renowned for his side's attacking exploits and in South Africa, Tabarez will be relying on his strike force to power his side to glory.

Known as 'El Maestro' - the teacher, Oscar Tabarez likes to see his sides playing free flowing attacking football and with Forlan and Suarez up front he will have the strikers he needs to finish the moves his midfielders make.

He will have to hope that his defenders are in top form otherwise Uruguay could end up missing out on glory.

One to Watch - Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez's rise to prominence has been swift since 2005 when he was starting out for Nacional in his home country. He scored 12 goals in 29 appearances before being transferred to Groningen.

Here he had another successful season hitting 10 goals in 29 games before Dutch giants Ajax paid €7.5million for his services.

At Ajax, Suarez has bloomed, on his league debut the youngster scored one assisted three and won a penalty. He has gone from strength to strength scoring 57 in 81 games and playing for Uruguay he has scored 9 in 25 caps forming a lethal pairing with Diego Forlan.

Odds to win - 80/1

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