This article is part of the Guardian’s 2018 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 32 countries who have qualified for Russia. theguardian.com is running previews from two countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 14 June.

Anyone who has been watching Uruguay over the past 10 years is familiar with Óscar Tabárez’s style: his teams are built from the back to make it as difficult as possible for opponents to score. Then it is all about giving the ball to the team’s world-class forwards, Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani.

His Uruguay sides have always been strong in central defence, with full-backs who attack only when absolutely necessary. Then there is a midfield that traditionally has been much more combative than creative, with an emphasis on moving the ball forward as quickly as possible. It has been vertical football with one aim – to hit opponents on the break.

Matías Vecino: Uruguay star inspired by family tragedy who said no to Italy Read more

Until now Uruguay have not needed to be much more than firm in defence and dangerous in attack – but then something happened. The team, together for so long, needed renewing, especially in midfield. And this changing of the guard has happened much more quickly than anyone thought possible.

With the new players, a new style arrived. The emergence of players such as Federico Valverde (Deportivo La Coruña on loan from Real Madrid), Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus), Nahitan Nández (Boca Juniors) and Matías Vecino (Internazionale) forced Tabárez to change his approach. In the end, with these dynamic and talented players, the transformation of Uruguay’s gameplan was almost inevitable.

For a long time Tabárez had said that Uruguay did not have the players to adopt a “European” style, ie physical as well as creative. Now he has them and, in the last World Cup qualifiers and subsequent friendlies, he has used a different approach.

The defence remains the same, with Diego Godín and José María Giménez being that rare combination at a World Cup – a pair who play together week in, week out (for Atlético Madrid). To the left, the hope is that Martín Cáceres (Verona) will arrive in good shape after two injury-hit seasons, and on the right there will be a battle between the experienced Maximiliano Pereira (Porto) and the young Guillermo Varela (Peñarol) to be in the XI.

It is in midfield where the real change has happened: Vecino is a guaranteed starter after a superb season with Inter but then there is a question of whether Betancur or Valverde will accompany him – both prefer to go forward and create rather than carry out defensive duties but they have developed from playing in Italy and Spain respectively.

To the right, Nández is expected to start while on the left Cristian Rodríguez is the preferred candidate, although he lacks the endurance of his earlier years. In attack, well, there is not much to add to the names of Cavani and Suárez.

Remember, though, that structural changes take time to become a habit. The basic concept of 4-4-2 with pressure all over the pitch has not altered but the central midfielders now treat the ball better and the service to Suárez and Cavani is much improved.

We also know that the World Cup is not a place to experiment. It is possible that, in the event of a poor result in the opener against Egypt, Tabárez will return to his more defensive approach. It would not be the first time: in the first international tournament of his second spell as Uruguay coach (the 2007 Copa América in Peru) he suddenly abandoned his initial approach of using three forwards.

In their only friendly before the World Cup Uruguay beat Uzbekistan 3-0 with Luis Suárez, Giorgian De Arrascaeta and José Giménez scoring the goals. Uruguay go in to the tournament having lost only one of their past nine games.

Probable starting XI

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Uruguay probable starting XI

Which player is going to surprise everyone at the World Cup?

Nahitan Nández. The pressure of playing in the World Cup will not be a problem. In fact, it will probably make him play even better. A leader who was made captain of Peñarol at the age of 21 and is a star at Boca Juniors aged 22.

Which player is likely to disappoint?

It could be Cristian Rodríguez. He has been a vital part of the team for a long time but, at 32, lacks the intensity and speed that are key to a wide player’s game.

What is the realistic aim for Uruguay at the World Cup and why?

The quarter-finals. Getting out of Group A (with Russia, Saudi Arabia and Egypt) should not be a problem but in the last 16 they could face Spain or Portugal. Get through that and France or Croatia may lie in wait. And that is probably the limit for this team.

Ignacio Chans writes for El Observador.

Follow him on Twitter here.

Click here for a profile of Uruguay’s Matías Vecino.