Last World Cup: Semifinalist
Nickname: La Celeste/Charrúas
Coach: Oscar Washington Tabarez
Star man: Edinson Cavani
Tournament best: Winners 1930, 1950

The Copa America holders struggled to qualify, needing a play-off against Jordan to book their place after narrowly missing out on the top four of the South American qualifying section. With players like Cavani and Luis Suarez, though, they have more than enough ability to cause problems. Won the World Cup the last time it was held in Brazil, back in 1950.

Strengths: Uruguay are a constant danger at set pieces – particularly free kicks – which accounted for a third of their qualifying goals, a greater proportion than all but two finalists. Defensively it's been tough to get the better of their full backs and headed chances against them are hard to come by.

Weaknesses: With over a third of goals conceded coming from close range, patrolling their six yard box is something Uruguay will need to work at. Their overall resilience also needs improving, both when defending leads and after falling behind: only two teams qualified with a lower percentage of points from winning positions and they recovered just one point from the six qualifying games in which they trailed.

Prospects: Both England and Italy represent major challenges in one of the toughest groups, with both expecting to go far in the tournament. Uruguay look capable of neutralising the aerial threat of both Italy and Costa Rica, who make up two of the four sides most dependent on headed goals, while their set piece prowess could be the best way to unlock England's tough defence.