Uruguay's defensive wall is well prepared for Cristiano Ronaldo FIFA World Cup 2018 Yet to concede in Russia

Oscar Tabarez is in his 12th year as Uruguay coach and their performances at this World Cup have exemplified the 71-year-old's style like nothing else.

Five goals scored, zero goals conceded. La Celeste finished top of their group with their best showing yet, demolishing hosts Russia 3-0 and now it is Portugal who stand in their way.

In many ways, Fernando Santos' side have come to replicate the rigid, safety in numbers structure of Uruguay however their trump card in attack is even more impressive than the strike partnership of Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.

Lucas Torreira has stood out as the new anchor man of Tabarez's current team which posseses youthful exuberance in the form of Juventus midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, Cruzeiro's Giorgian De Arrascaeta and Nahitan Nandez of Boca Juniors.

Behind them, the wily experience of Diego Godin is matched by goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, the duo involved as Uruguay also avoided conceding in the 2010 group phase before finishing fourth, and they are now partnered by Atletico Madrid centre-back Jose Gimenez.

Gimenez is a doubt for Saturday's last-16 clash in Sochi but replacement Sebastian Coates is hardly short of experience, and can form a formidable part of an imposing wall that Cristiano Ronaldo will be in charge of breaking down.