Copa America 2015 Preview: Uruguay

A population of just over three million, two World Cup titles, and a record 15 Copa America crowns.

Few nations can boast a national team that punches above its weight quite like Uruguay, who will enter the Copa America as the reigning champion following its success in 2011.

Uruguay possesses an incredibly smart football culture, one that compensates for its small population and produces squads with unparalleled versatility.

Summing up La Celeste's accomplishments is a lengthy task. They captured their first Copa America title 99 years ago in the tournament's inaugural edition and went on to win the first installment of the World Cup 14 years later.

How does a nation that requires a magnifying glass to identify on a map of the planet consistently collect silverware over the course of a century?

Craig Foster of the Special Broadcasting Service provided arguably the best answer following Uruguay's Copa America triumph four years ago:

The thing about Uruguay, I think in the end for me that sums them up, is that they never beat themselves. A lot of nations beat themselves when they get under pressure, or when they get in the lead, or the players combust internally. There's all sorts of things in different cultures which affect them.

Uruguay never beat themselves. Everyone knows when you go and play them you're going to have to beat them because they're tough. They're tough mentally, they're tough physically, and they can play football.

Of course, for a team that prides itself on never self-destructing, Luis Suarez did Uruguay no favours by sinking his teeth into Giorgio Chiellini at last year's World Cup, a lapse in judgment that means La Celeste will be without his services at the Copa America.

However, Uruguay's production line of footballers means there are plenty of capable players ready to fill the void left by Suarez, and the competition will provide fascinating insight into how manager Oscar Washington Tabarez's rebuild of the national team is coming along ahead of the South American qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup.

Group Stage Schedule

All times are listed in local time

Projected Starting XI

Fernando Muslera; Maxi Pereira, Jose Gimenez, Diego Godin, Alvaro Pereira; Carlos Sanchez, Egidio Arevalo Rios, Cristian Rodriguez; Nicolas Lodeiro; Edinson Cavani, Diego Rolan.

Uruguay possesses the unique ability to adjust its tactics over the course of several months, over the course of a tournament, and within a single match.

Versatility is a trademark feature of La Celeste, one that evil tactical genius Tabarez, appropriately nicknamed El Maestro, will use to his advantage at the Copa America, tampering with his side's formation as each match evolves.

With Uruguay in the midst of a rebuilding phase, recent friendlies have seen Tabarez experiment with a crop of youngsters, many of whom are ascendants of the under-20 national team. Centre-back Jose Gimenez and forward Diego Rolan are set to feature in the new-look starting XI, while attacking midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta will be called upon as a substitute.

El Capitan

Easing the transition between a fizzling generation and the next generation will be Diego Godin, who is widely viewed as one of the world's top centre-backs.

An industrial defender who oozes effort and class, Godin will be responsible for marshaling Uruguay's backline, ensuring he and fellow centre-back Jose Gimenez are operating on the same wavelength.

It's also worth mentioning that Godin was the player to score the goal that secured La Celeste's progression from the group stage of the World Cup, a reminder of just how comfortable he is at coming through when Uruguay needs it most.

The Star

The stage is set for Edinson Cavani to shine at the Copa America.

Without Suarez, who is suspended for the competition, and Diego Forlan, who retired from international football in March, Cavani will be shouldered with finding the back of the net.

Something of a box-to-box forward, Cavani is a creature who follows the ball wherever it may be on the pitch. He'll always be in front of goal, ready to head home a cross, but he'll also be providing a defensive presence near his own team's corner flag one minute later, or launching a counterattack down the middle of pitch as soon as the opposing side coughs up possession.

Cavani can do it all, and following a season where he came under constant criticism at the Parc des Princes, he'll be keen to silence his haters, even though there should really be no obligation to do so.

The Young Gun

No Luis Suarez? No problem. Diego Rolan to the rescue.

A 22-year-old forward who will likely be the direct replacement for Suarez in Uruguay's starting XI at the Copa America, Rolan is one of those forwards who was undeniably born with a sixth sense, a player whose eye for goal is breathtaking.

By no means, however, is Rolan's skill set limited to finishing. He passes the ball with composure, provides an aerial threat in the 18-yard box, and can slice open a backline with a devastating through ball. He's exceptionally well-rounded and it will likely take only one match at the Copa America for the youngster to grab South America's attention.

While Uruguay would obviously prefer to have Suarez at its disposal, Rolan is about as good of a backup as La Celeste could ask for.

Burning Questions

• What kind of revolutionary tactics will Oscar Washington Tabarez deploy this time around?
• Uruguay's squad features a number of players who have been recently promoted from the under-20 national team. How will they perform on a stage larger than anything they've experienced at the international level?
• Can Diego Rolan score the goals Luis Suarez inevitably would have scored?

Odds and Ends

Nickname: La Celeste

Most caps: Diego Forlan (112)

Top scorer: Luis Suarez (44)

Best Copa America result: Champions (1916, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1935, 1942, 1956, 1959, 1967, 1983, 1987, 1995, 2011)