FORTALEZA, Brazil (AP) – Uruguay has left Luis Suarez on the bench for their opening World Cup game against Costa Rica, opting not to risk the star striker’s health as he recovers from knee surgery.
Coach Oscar Tabarez fielded strikers Diego Forlan and Edinson Cavani in the Group D match at Arena Castelao in Fortaleza.
Joel Campbell leads the attack for the Costa Ricans, while central defender Michael Unama recovered from the flu to make the starting line-up.
Even without Suarez, Uruguay are a big favourite against Costa Rica.
Uruguay: Fernando Muslera, Diego Lugano, Diego Godin, Walter Gargano, Cristian Rodriguez, Diego Forlan, Cristian Stuani, Maxi Pereira, Egidio Arevalo, Edinson Cavani, Martin Caceres.
Costa Rica: Keylor Navas, Giancarlo Gonzalez, Michael Umana, Celso Birges, Oscar Duarte, Christian Bolanos, Joel Campbell, Bryan Ruiz, Junior Diaz, Cristian Gamboa, Yeltsin Tejeda.
