Internationals Preview and Matchday: Uruguay's Victory Lap

Uruguay may have made life difficult for themselves, finishing fifth in CONMEBOL and facing an intercontinental playoff in order to qualify for next summer's World Cup right next door in Brazil, but the formality of tonight's game aside, they've finally made it. Oscar Tabarez' men have often looked a poor imitation of the side that so impressed at the last World Cup and followed that up by winning the Copa America, but after a five goal margin of victory over Jordan last week, all that matters now is that they'll be going to Brazil.

"This is a serious match, not a training session," insisted Tabarez when asked about the problem of finding motivation for his players ahead of a game not even the most hopeful Jordanian sees as anything but a 90-minute confirmation of Uruguay's World Cup status. "The score difference makes this match a little bit strange, [but] we are sure of what we want, what the stadium will be like and what supporters want from us. When there is no need, there is no motivation, but as soon as we get closer to the environment, we'll settle down and I hope we can play a good game."

Never one to sit a game out, Luis Suarez is expected to start—though there's a decent chance Tabarez will give him a rest before the night ends—before hopping on John Henry's private jet to head back to Liverpool ahead of the Merseyside derby. Meanwhile, the celebratory mood in Uruguay is likely to last a good deal longer than the match itself does.