Uruguay to rely on Suárez and Cavani again at World Cup

For the first time in 15 years, Uruguay is planning for a World Cup without the “maestro.”

Óscar Tabárez, the 75-year-old coach who led the team at the three previous editions of the tournament, is out. His replacement is 47-year-old Diego Alonso, a man with little experience who will likely put his trust in veteran strikers Edinson Cavani and Luis Suárez.

Alonso took over for Tabárez this year after a series of poor results in South American qualifying. The change helped the team secure a direct spot in the World Cup, but it also cut a family bond between the coach and his players, including some who took the “Celeste” to the World Cup semifinals in 2010.

“We don’t compare ourselves with anyone, or with (teams of) previous World Cups, or with what happened before,” Alonso said recently. “We only hope for the best because that’s what we want, that’s