GROUP A / URUGUAY

*--* World Cup record: Played 37 (15-14-8); goals for: 61; goals against: 52 Best finish: Champion in 1930, 1950 1998 showing: Did not qualify Coach: Victor Pua. Coached Uruguay’s under-20 team to a second-place finish in the FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia in 1997 Players to watch: Paolo Montero, Alvaro Recoba, Sebastian Abreu In brief: Making its first appearance at the World Cup in 12 years, Uruguay brings a team sprinkled with quality players but at times lacking cohesion and focus. It barely managed to qualify through a playoff against Australia and its warmup results since then have been indifferent. Pua says a victory in the Denmark opener is the key to moving on Quick quote: “They will all be tough matches.”--Pua Forecast: If the Uruguayans can maintain some defensive composure and avoid red cards, to which their overly physical approach makes them prone, they have enough firepower up front to reach the second round, where they will bow out

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