Life after Luis Suárez: how Uruguay will play without their banned star

Luis Suárez’s importance to Uruguay can be summarised in various ways. You can look at the fact that he is the country’s all-time leading goalscorer, remember him being named as the tournament’s best player when Uruguay won the Copa América in 2011, or consider the quite desperate lengths his team-mates go to defend his various transgressions.

The best piece of evidence, however, is the astonishing difference in performance between Uruguay’s first two displays of this World Cup.

Without Suárez against Costa Rica, they were hopeless from the outset, hitting aimless long balls towards Edinson Cavani, who was battling three centre-backs solo. In fairness, losing to Costa Rica is not as embarrassing as we first thought considering their subsequent results, but that 3-1 defeat was probably the worst performance so far from any of the 16 sides remaining.

Suárez might not have been 100% fit against England, when he scored both goals in a 2-1 victory, but Uruguay were transformed. Suárez was not involved in Uruguay’s buildup play, instead positioning himself on the shoulder of the last defender (in a less literal manner than against Giorgio Chiellini five days later) and sprinting in behind. He is not the captain, but he is certainly the side’s leader, given huge freedom to play his natural game. Who else shoots from corners twice in one match?

Somehow, though, Suárez’s return meant the entire Uruguayan side made sense – Cavani was deeper and linked play beautifully, while the midfield was squashed into a diamond and dominated the centre of the pitch. Suárez was also effective against Italy, playing some lovely one-twos down the left flank before his latest act of violence.

Oscar Tabárez now has two problems. First, how does he defend Suárez? Second, how does he format his side?

Tabárez is an unpredictable coach. At the previous World Cup he took Uruguay to the semi-finals by relentlessly changing his formation between matches. Their poor period throughout qualification came when Tabárez settled down and consistently played one solid shape, a 4-4-1-1, the system that failed against Costa Rica. It is when they have moved away from that system, with a diamond against England and a late decision to match Italy’s 3-5-2, that they have triumphed.

Predicting his next move is difficult. It is unquestionable that Cavani will revert to his favoured position as the central striker, with the likes of Diego Forlán, Gaston Ramírez and Christian Stuani considered the favourites for the other forward role.

However, Tabárez might have something else up his sleeve. Colombia are very dangerous opponents, and boast one of the stars of the tournament, the brilliantly creative No10 James Rodríguez.

Tabárez will feel the need to be solid in the centre, and therefore could return to the format he favoured throughout the previous World Cup (even among various formation changes) with another destructive midfielder, Diego Pérez or Walter Gargano, coming into the side alongside Egidio Arévalo Ríos.

Nicolás Lodeiro, who played a very clever role at the top of the diamond against England, could be pushed forward in support of Cavani. It might still be 4-4-1-1, but Uruguay’s record goalscorer would be replaced with a defensive midfielder.

Regardless of Tabárez’s system, Cavani must impose himself. His man-marking jobs on Steven Gerrard and Andrea Pirlo have been vital in Uruguay’s progress, and he scored a penalty against Costa Rica, but we are still waiting for Cavani to shine at international level in front of goal.

This would be the first time Tabárez bases his side around Cavani. Strong in the air, quick across the ground and lethal with both feet, this is Cavani’s best opportunity to shine on the world stage. Just as Radamel Falcao’s absence for Colombia has prompted others to step up, Tabárez will be confident Suárez’s understudy is capable of leading Uruguay to victory at the Maracanã.