Luis Suárez & Edinson Cavani — The End Of The Charrúa Warriors
Cavani and Suarez. Suarez and Cavani. The forever-linked Uruguayan forwards, surely not for longer. One year and two days separated their international debuts but even that gap couldn’t break their relation in history, given that both of them faced a Colombian side in 2007 (Luis) and 2008 (Edinson). Three and two years later, respectively, both Charrúas featured for Uruguay in the 2010 World Cup, and up to this day they have not stopped getting praised.
It is not hard to say, much harder to achieve. With France ousting Uruguay out of this year’s WC, Suárez reached 103 caps for the 105 of Cavani. The Barcelona striker saw his international goal account fatten to 53 while that of PSG’s man elevated itself to 45, just eight short of Luis’ number. But with these two South Americans it doesn’t come down to just shots and goals, even with both of them playing at the most advanced positions. It all comes down to their “Garra”, the one assorted to everyone born in Uruguayan soil.
Had we to pick a couple of players to represent the Garra Charrúa, which is to say, Uruguay’s men willingness to fight every game as if it was the last one they’d ever play, we may lead towards the pair of Godín and Gimenez on defense. Only thing is, while it’s true Diego Godín is nearing the end of his international career, José Gimenez is just starting to savour and learn from it. We’re then left with Luis and Edinson, up front, attacking rivals with the strongest of passions yet making tremendous defensive efforts. Call it a complete package, multiplied by two.
But father time is unbeatable, and both Suárez and Cavani find themselves on the wrong side of 30 now. Both born in 1987 they sit at 31 years of age and there is only a sliver of hope they’ll reach next World Cup edition in four-years time, when they will be 35–the same age Diego Forlán made his final contribution to the Uruguayan side four years ago. It wouldn’t be the last time an oldie played at such a high-level competition, for sure, but it won’t probably be the same. New faces are coming, old faces will be going, and the Garra will still be there but the legs may already have quit on them by then.
Good for us, football never stops. There is a Copa America at the end of the next season–Uruguay has won the most and did it in 2011 for the last time–, and surely Suárez and Cavani will remain prominent names at club-level competitions. Barcelona’s advanced line relies on Luis as much as on anyone besides Messi, and Edinson is still a powerhouse on Neymar’s-led French side PSG. More league trophies will arrive, the Champions League will be at a stone’s throw away every season, and the dream of featuring one last–big–time for the Charrúa national team will keep alive, at least for the time being.
This could have been the end, but with the Garra hidden in both player’s hearts for the next four years, it is hard not to depict it making a surge and exploding at the perfect moment in Qatar. Only time will tell.
