Former Barça scorer Luis Suárez, 36, will once again defend the Uruguay national team shirt after being summoned by Marcelo Bielsa to play the double date of the South American qualifying qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup against Argentina and Bolivia.
The Uruguayan forward had not played with the national team since the World Cup in Qatar but his great form with the Brazilian Gremio has allowed him to return to contribute on the way to the next World Cup event.
“In a player like Suárez, what always speaks for him are the goals. He has converted and assisted in a very high and very influential amount,” Bielsa stated. “One way to take care of a player's self-esteem is to call him when it can be important,” the Argentine coach remarked at a press conference.
In the last five games, Suárez has found the goal on five occasions, has made three assists on goal and has also caused a penalty. This contribution has meant that, despite Sunday's 0-1 defeat against Corinthians, Gremio is approaching the top of the Brasileirão, just one point behind Botafogo, second, and three behind Palmeiras, first.
Apart from Suárez, Uruguay recovers José María Giménez (Atlético) who was suspended for his behavior in the last World Cup match against Ghana and Rodrigo Bentancur, recovered from an injury he suffered in February with Tottenham.
Other players appearing in the call-up are Federico Valverde, Ronald Araujo, Facundo Pellistri, Sergio Rochet, Manuel Ugarte, Nicolas de la Cruz, Darwin Nunez and Maximiliano Araujo, Bielsa's usual starters.
Uruguay will face Argentina this Thursday at Boca Juniors' La Bombonera stadium at 9:00 p.m. local time (1:00 a.m. in Spain) on the fifth day of the qualifiers.
On November 21, Uruguay will host Bolivia at the historic Centenario stadium in Montevideo at 8:30 p.m. local time (00:30 in Spain), a match corresponding to the sixth day.
After the first four rounds have been played, La Celeste is second in the standings after accumulating 7 of the 12 points it has played for.
Goalkeepers: Sergio Rochet (Internacional-BRA), Santiago Mele (Junior-COL), Franco Israel (Sporting-POR).
Defenders: Bruno Méndez (Corinthians-BRA), Sebastián Cáceres (América-MEX), Guillermo Varela (Flamengo-BRA), José María Giménez (Atlético de Madrid-ESP), Matías Viña (Sassuolo-ITA), Mathías Olivera (Naples- ITA), Ronald Araujo (Barcelona).
Midfielders: Federico Valverde (Real Madrid-ESP), Manuel Ugarte (PSG-FRA), Nicolas de la Cruz (River Plate-ARG), Augustin Cannobio (Athletico Paranaense-BRA), Facundo Torres (Orlando City-USA), Maximilian Araújo Facundo Pellistri (Manchester United-MEX), Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo-BRA), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham-MEX) and Felipe Carballo (Gremio-BRA).
Strikers: Darwin Nunez (Liverpool-ENG), Cristian Olivera (Los Angeles-USA), Federico Viñas (Lion-MEX) and Luis Suarez (Gremio-BRA).
