Luis Suarez omitted from World Cup as Marcelo Bielsa announces final 26 player roster
- Emiliano Martinez
- Fernando Muslera
- Guillermo Varela
- Joaquin Piquerez
- Jose Maria Gimenez
- Manuel Ugarte
- Mathias Olivera
- Matias Vina
- Rodrigo
- Ronald Araujo
- Santiago Bueno
- Santiago Mele
- Sebastian Caceres
- Sergio Rochet
- Uruguay
- World Championship
- Cape Verde Islands National Team
- Saudi Arabia National Team
- Spain National Team
Suarez, aged 39, had kept the possibility of an international comeback alive, stating he would end his retirement if the national team required his services after a gap of 20 months.
However, no spot was found for him. Suarez had previously criticised Bielsa's managerial approach, claiming it had caused division within the dressing room, though he later said he had apologised for those comments.
Nandez, 30, had represented Uruguay in various World Cup qualifying matches, but Bielsa has been moving away from older players in favour of a team composed of individuals in their peak years.
The side is constructed around a defensive core led by Ronald Araujo, Jose Maria Gimenez and Mathias Olivera.
The inclusion of Federico Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur, Manuel Ugarte and Nicolas de la Cruz gives Bielsa the energy and pressing intensity he desires in midfield, while Darwin Nunez leads the forward line.
Nevertheless, Nunez has not featured in the Saudi Pro League for his club Al Hilal since February, after the team was compelled to reorganise its foreign player registrations when they acquired former Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema.
Uruguay are placed in Group H and will play their opening match against Saudi Arabia on June 15th, followed by fixtures against Cape Verde and Spain.
Uruguay's World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Sergio Rochet (Internacional), Fernando Muslera (Estudiantes), Santiago Mele (Monterrey)
Defenders: Guillermo Varela (Flamengo), Ronald Araujo (Barcelona), Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Santiago Bueno (Wolves), Sebastian Caceres (Club America), Mathias Olivera (Napoli), Joaquin Piquerez (Palmeiras), Matias Vina (River Plate)
Midfielders: Manuel Ugarte (Manchester United), Emiliano Martinez (Palmeiras), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham Hotspur), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Agustin Canobbio (Fluminense), Juan Manuel Sanabria (Real Salt Lake), Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Flamengo), Nicolas De La Cruz (Flamengo), Rodrigo Zalazar (Braga), Facundo Pellistri (Panathinaikos), Maximiliano Araujo (Sporting CP), Brian Rodriguez (Club America)
Forwards: Rodrigo Aguirre (Tigres), Federico Vinas (Real Oviedo, on loan from Club Leon), Darwin Nunez (Al Hilal)