WORLD CUP 2022 PREVIEW: URUGUAY: The nation are looking to better disappointing quarter-final exit with Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani set for their last dance at the tournament
It could be said that this World Cup is the 'last dance' for a number of footballing legends.
There has been a lot of attention surrounding Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with the duo set to embark on their last major global tournaments, but not much has been said about Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. The Uruguay pair have written their name into World Cup history over the years, with Suarez (7) and Cavani (5) inside the top 75 goalscorers in the competition since its introduction in 1930.
Suarez made his World Cup debut in 2010 - a tournament that the forward will never forget. Uruguay blitzed through a group that consisted of France, South Africa and Mexico, with the ex-Liverpool man directly contributing to three goals. Meanwhile, Cavani started in a front-two alongside Suarez in every group game, although the Valencia forward notched just one assist in the process.
It was a strike partnership that drew headlines across the planet as Suarez and Cavani helped Uruguay past South Korea in the Last-16, with the former scoring twice in that game. However, Suarez caused plenty of controversy in the quarter-final against Ghana as he was sent off for a deliberate handball on the goal-line.
With the scores level, Dominic Adiyiah's header was flying towards the back of the net in the 120th minute before Suarez stepped in and handled the ball, preventing Ghana from winning the game. Suarez was giving his marching orders and was praying that Fernardo Muslera would spare his blushers as Asamoah Gyan stepped up from the spot.
But Gyan squandered the chance to give Ghana the win as the game went straight to penalties. And you know the rest. Uruguay went onto win the shootout 5-3 and secure their passage into the semi-final against the Netherlands.
A Suarez-less Uruguay couldn't reach the final as they fell to an agonising 3-2 defeat against the Dutch, with Cavani being partnered up front by Diego Forlan. Suarez returned for the third place play-off, although the ex-Barcelona hero couldn't find the net as Germany ran out 3-2 winners in South Africa.
The four years between the 2010 and the 2014 tournament is where Suarez and Cavani really found the world stage at club level, with the former almost helping Liverpool to win the Premier League. Meanwhile, Cavani earned a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain from Napoli, with the striker netting 25 goals in the season leading up to the tournament in Brazil.
In a surprise decision, Suarez was named on the bench for Uruguay's opening game against Costa Rica and it was a choice that backfired as the Latin America nation ran out 3-1 winners. The Sky Blue went back to their tride and trusted front-two of Suarez and Cavani for the clash with England, and it worked. Suarez netted a brace for Uruguay as they defeated 2-0 - a much-needed win heading into the final group game against Italy.
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Then came another piece of controversy surrounding Suarez. The five-time La Liga champion appeared to bite Giorgio Chiellini during their 1-0 victory over the Italians, however, the incident wasn't picked up by the referee.
However, Suarez was retrospectively banned by FIFA, meaning he was ruled out of their Last-16 clash with Colombia - a game Uruguay lost 2-0 with Cavani struggling throughout. Suarez received a nine-game international ban for his bite, but it didn't put Barcelona off as they completed the signing of the highly-sought after striker in the same summer after his record-breaking campaign at Liverpool.
The 2018 World Cup in Russia provided Suarez and Cavani the last real opportunity to perform at the peak of their powers after the pair struck a combined 71 club goals in the 2017/18 season for PSG and Barcelona. Uruguay came into the competition as one of the favourites and they found their stride in the group stages, collecting nine points from a possible nine following wins over Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Russia.
Cavani was the star of the show for the Sky Blue in the Last-16 as they shocked Portugal, with the ex-Manchester United man striking twice in a 2-1 victory. But Uruguay's tournament came to an end with a 2-0 loss against eventual winners France in the quarter-final, with Suarez striking two times across the World Cup.
Fast forward four years and Uruguay look a slightly different proposition with a new talisman in town. That is in the form of Liverpool hotshot Darwin Nunez, who will be keen to follow in the footsteps of Suarez and Cavani and shine at the tournament. Nunez is expected to start in a front two alongside Suarez with Federico Valverde and Rodrigo Bentancur providing support from midfield.
This could well be Suarez and Cavani's last World Cup's, with the pair now 35 and they will be keen to end with a bang. Uruguay face South Korea in their opening group game on Thursday, before they take on Portugal and Ghana. This is a tricky-looking group for the Sky Blue but they will fancy themselves to reach at least the knockout rounds.
