Forlan, Lodeiro named in Uruguay squad

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has included Brazil-based players Diego Forlan and Nicolas Lodeiro in his squad for June internationals against France and Venezuela in addition to the Confederations Cup.

Midfielder Lodeiro, 23, was rewarded for his impressive form for Botafogo, for whom he top-scored with eight goals during the club's triumphant 2013 Campeonato Carioca campaign, while Forlan has scored 10 times in 11 matches for Internacional this year, reports Xinhua.

Forlan, 34, forms part of a potent attack that also includes Liverpool frontman Luis Suarez and Napoli's Edinson Cavani.

Uruguay will host France at the Centenario stadium here June 5 before travelling to Venezuela for a World Cup qualifier June 11.

Tabarez's team will then contest the Confederations Cup from June 15-30 in Brazil.

Considered a prelude to next year's World Cup, the tournament features each of FIFA's six regional champions and European runners up Italy.

Uruguay squad:

Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martin Silva (Olimpia), Rodrigo Munoz (Libertad), Juan Castillo (Danubio)

Defenders: Alejandro Silva (Olimpia), Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica), Carlos Valdez, Matias Aguirregaray (both Penarol), Diego Lugano (Malaga), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Andres Scotti (Nacional) Sebastian Coates(Liverpool), Martin Caceres (Juventus)

Midfielders: Alvaro Gonzalez (Lazio), Alvaro Pereira, Walter Gargano (both Inter Milan), Egidio Arevalo Rios (Palermo), Diego Perez (Bologna), Sebastian Eguren (Libertad), Cristian Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Gaston Ramirez (Southampton), Nicolas Lodeiro (Botafogo)

Forwards: Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Edinson Cavani (Napoli), Abel Hernandez(Palermo), Diego Forlan (Internacional), Cristian Stuani (Espanyol),Gonzalo Castro (Real Sociedad)