MONTEVIDEO (Reuters) - Penpix of Uruguay's 23-man squad for the World Cup in South Africa: 1-Fernando Muslera (Lazio). Goalkeeper. Born June 16 1986. Caps: 6. Made his debut in October and played in the last four qualifiers including the two-leg playoff against Costa Rica. Despite his youth, his all-round ability gave the team security in a position which had not been settled in earlier qualifiers. 12-Juan Castillo (Deportivo Cali). Goalkeeper. Born April 17 1978. Caps: 11. Likes to come off his line, but errors cost him his place in the run-in to the qualifying berth. First came in for veteran Fabian Carini in September 2007 and played in eight qualifiers altogether although he had a long spell out with a knee injury when he was replaced by Sebastian Viera. 23-Martin Silva (Defensor Sporting). Goalkeeper. Born March 25 1983. Caps: 1. Won his only cap in a friendly against Algeria last August but is well imbued with system of coach Oscar Washington Tabarez, having played a full part in the juniors. 2-Diego Lugano (Fenerbahce). Defender. Born Nov. 2 1980. Caps: 42. Goals: 4. The team's captain represents the traditional Uruguayan style of play based more on temperament and strength rather than refined technique. He fights hard for every ball, making his presence felt at the back and pushing forward when the team are down. 3-Diego Godin (Villarreal). Defender. Born Feb. 16 1986. Caps: 38. Goals: 3. Belongs to a select group of about a dozen players who have been with Tabarez from the start of the coach's tenure. Keeps a low profile but is a physical defender with good control. 19-Andres Scotti (Colo Colo). Defender. Born Dec. 14 1975. Caps: 26. Goals: 1. Another Tabarez favourite who uses his 1.83-metres height to good effect both in defence and attack and rarely makes mistakes. An extrovert who keeps the mood light in the squad. 6-Mauricio Victorino (Universidad de Chile). Defender. Born Oct. 11 1982. Caps: 4. After winning his first two caps in 2006, he returned for the two-leg playoff against Costa Rica last November. He is a strong, mobile marker good at helping to organise the defence. 22-Martin Caceres (Barcelona). Defender. Born April 7 1987. Caps: 19. Long-haired central defender who stood out in the qualifiers, starting 12 of the last 14 before an injury put him out for the playoff. Can also play on the flank which he did for Barcelona and has done on loan at Juventus this season. 4-Jorge Fucile (Porto). Defender. Born Nov. 19 1984. Caps: 24. A fast, versatile full back who can play on either flank, he is part of the strong South American contingent at Porto. 16-Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica). Defender/midfielder. Born June 8 1984. Caps: 37. Nicknamed "Mono" (monkey), he stands out for his marking more than his attacking as a wing back and has generally been first choice under Tabarez although he has had injury problems. 8-Sebastian Eguren (Villarreal). Midfielder. Born Jan. 8 1981. Caps: 27. Goals: 5. A strong ball winner who played in most of the qualifiers while he was at Villarreal but left on loan for AIK Stockholm to ensure regular games ahead of the World Cup. More likely a reserve in the finals. 11-Alvaro Pereira (Porto). Midfielder. Born Nov. 28 1985. Caps: 15. Goals: 2. A regular in the qualifiers last year after making his debut in a friendly against France in 2008. Wide midfielder who combines well with the strikers on the flanks. Nicknamed "Palito" (little stick). 5-Walter Gargano (Napoli). Midfielder. Born July 23 1984. Caps: 28. Holding midfielder with good technique and distribution who ensures the team stick to their tactical plan. 15-Diego Perez (Monaco). Midfielder. Born May 18 1980. Caps 50. Dependable midfield strongman who stands between the defence and the opposition attack, also good moving forward, he covers a lot of ground. Made his debut in 2001. Nicknamed "Ruso" (Russian). 20-Alvaro Fernandez (Nacional). Midfielder. Born Oct. 11 1985. Caps: 7. Fast, 1.85 metres tall, he stands out for his quick movement from defence into attack. On loan at Universidad de Chile, he has helped the Chilean club reach this year's Libertadores Cup semi-finals. Nicknamed "Pajaro" (bird). 14-Nicolas Lodeiro (Ajax Amsterdam). Midfielder. Born March 2 1989. Caps: 4. The new hope of Uruguayan football, a skilful, creative player in the traditional South American number 10 mould who was plucked from the under-20 team for the playoff games against Costa Rica. Struggled to settle in at Ajax this season but was expected to regain his rhythm in the build-up to the finals. 17-Egidio Arevalo Rios (Penarol). Midfielder. Born Jan. 1 1982. Caps: 6. Won his caps in Tabarez's first year in charge and has re-emerged thanks to some fine performances for Penarol as playmaker in the team's unbeaten run to the Clausura title. Earned a recall against Switzerland in March when he came on as a substitute. 18-Ignacio Gonzalez (Valencia). Midfielder. Born May 14 1982. Caps: 21. Goals: 1. "Nacho" is a creative midfielder recalled in March for the first time since September 2008, having joined Levadiakos in Greece on loan to ensure regular playing time. He has recently recovered from a back problem. 9-Luis Suarez (Ajax Amsterdam). Forward. Born Jan. 24 1987. Caps: 30. Goals: 10. The Dutch league's top scorer this season with 35 goals, he also scored two in Ajax's 4-1 Dutch Cup final victory over Feyenoord. A fast striker who likes to pick up the ball deep and attack from the wings. Nicknamed "Salto" after the town he is from. 10-Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid). Forward. Born May 19 1979. Caps: 62. Goals: 24. The team's talismanic player, twice top scorer in Spain's La Liga and twice winner of Europe's Golden Boot, he is going to his second World Cup after 2002, where he played and scored in the second half of Uruguay's last group game before they were eliminated. A cool-headed finisher who scores from close in or outside the box. His girlfriend is Argentine model Zaira Nara. 13-Sebastian Abreu (Botafogo). Forward. Born Oct. 17 1976. Caps: 56. Goals: 26. Charismatic, lanky, 1.93-metre striker nicknamed "El Loco" who has played for a dozen clubs in different countries, adept at keeping defenders busy in the box at set pieces. As Uruguay's "super-sub", he came on and headed the goal at home to Costa Rica that secured their qualification in the November playoff. 7-Edinson Cavani (Palermo). Forward. Born Feb. 14 1987. Caps: 14. Goals 2. Known as "El Matador", he moved to Europe from Danubio at 20. Fast with good close control, difficult to dispossess, he is also a good header. 21-Sebastian Fernandez (Banfield). Forward. Born May 23 1985. Caps: 6. Small, nippy forward who helped his club to win the Argentine Apertura championship in December, their first league title. A good understudy, he has played in five friendlies and one qualifier as a substitute in the away leg of the playoff against Costa Rica. (Compiled by Conrado Hornos; Writing by Rex Gowar in Buenos Aires; Editing by Tom Pilcher; to query or comment on this story email [email protected])
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