Suarez encourages Uruguay

Luis Suarez Montevideo - Arabstoday Luis Suarez has called on Uruguay to "comfortably" qualify for the FIFA World Cup™ and spare themselves the emotional roller-coaster of yet another intercontinental play-off. Uruguay have been forced into a play-off to reach the last three world finals, winning one and losing one against Australia in 2002 and 2006 respectively, and triumphing against Costa Rica ahead of the 2010 finals in South Africa. But Uruguayan expectations have changed markedly in recent years, with a run to the semi-finals in South Africa followed by victory in last year's Copa America. Oscar Tabarez's men now sit third in the FIFA/Coca-Cola world rankings, and Liverpool striker Suarez believes they must deliver on their billing as the top side in South America and claim the top-four finish that would guarantee them a place at Brazil 2014. "Our target is to reach a comfortable qualification to the World Cup," Suarez said. "Despite all the achievements we managed in the last few years, we can't forget we suffered a lot to qualify for our last two World Cups." Uruguay lead the way in the South American qualifying zone with seven points from their first three games, just ahead Argentina and Venezuela on goal difference with both those sides having played one game more.