Key events
There are a few familiar names in Marcelo Bielsa’s starting XI. Federico Valverde, who led Manchester City a merry dance earlier this month in the Champions League with that first-half hat-trick, captains the side. Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte anchors the midfield, while the defence revolves around Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo. Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez, who isn’t getting much game-time at Al-Hilal, is on the bench. Wolves defender Santiago Bueno misses out altogether.
The first England starting XI of this World Cup year has a resolutely experimental feel. Manchester City keeper James Trafford makes his debut for the Three Lions. Everton’s James Garner also debuts, with captain-for-the-evening Jordan Henderson alongside him to lend the sort of experience only 88 caps can bring. John Stones is injured, so Fikayo Tomori will earn his sixth cap at centre back, while Phil Foden gets the nod at No10 ahead of Cole Palmer. Dominic Solanke is favoured up front instead of his namesake Calvert-Lewin.
The teams
England: Trafford, Livramento, Maguire, Tomori, Spence, Henderson, Garner, Foden, Madueke, Rashford, Solanke.
Uruguay: Muslera, Varela, R Araujo, Olivera, Piquerez, Ugarte, Valverde, De Arrascaeta, Canobbio, M Araujo, Aguirre.
Preamble
England’s World Cup prep starts here. They’re in good nick, having won 12 of their last 13 matches to the cumulative tune of 37-4. They’ve kept a clean sheet in 11 of their last 12 games, including all of the last six. Meanwhile Uruguay lost their last game 5-1 to the USA. Hopes are high.
But some expectation management. There are only two teams against whom England have a lower win ratio than the 27 percent (P11 W3) they’ve managed against Uruguay: Brazil and Romania. And the last time England faced La Celeste, this happened …
Oh Mr Roy! So nobody will be taking anything for granted. Kick-off is at 7.45pm GMT. It’s on!
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