Uruguay
Manager: Marcelo Bielsa
There is no doubting the quality of Uruguay's squad but three wins from their final 12 qualifiers does not inspire great confidence that they will make it out of Group H. Add in the physical demands of Marcelo Bielsa’s high-intensity tactics and there is a chance that the two-time world champions could suffer a shock early exit. Inconsistent finisher Darwin Nunez will be expected to provide a cutting edge up front, but his underwhelming three years at Liverpool proved that trusting him to deliver consistently can be risky business. Star man Federico Valverde has enjoyed a superb season with Real Madrid but his ability to create something from nothing may not be enough to cover up the cracks in Bielsa's squad.