Uruguay coach Tabarez hails midfield options for China Cup

Source: Xinhua| 2018-03-18 08:50:39|Editor: pengying
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MONTEVIDEO, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said Saturday he will have a wealth of midfield options during the four-nation China Cup beginning on Thursday.

Among midfielders included in his 23-man squad for the tournament in the southern Chinese city of Nanning are Sampdoria pair Lucas Torreira and Gaston Ramirez, Inter Milan's Matias Vecino and Juventus youngster Rodrigo Betancur.

"We expect to have better options than on previous occasions, especially in midfield," Tabarez told reporters. "We hope to take a team [to China] that will give us many options using different players, even if they play in the same position."

Uruguay will meet the Czech Republic on Friday for the right to contest the China Cup final against the winner of the match between China and Wales.

The friendly tournament will be one of the last chances for Tabarez to trial his players ahead of the World Cup, to be played in Russia from June 14 to July 15.

Tabarez said he still has an open mind about who to include in his squad for football's biggest tournament.

"We don't rule out any player [for the World Cup]," the 71-year-old said. "On this occasion I have to take players to China who I have a chance of seeing. Those players are a priority, ahead of those who I already know. When the time comes, we will decide who will go to Russia."

Uruguay have been drawn in the World Cup's Group A alongside Egypt, Russia and Saudi Arabia.

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