Oscar Tabarez's side open their Group A campaign in Cape Town against France on Friday night and 33-year-old Abreu cannot wait to get under way.

The well-travelled 33-year-old Botafogo frontman, who represented his country at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, said: "It's a very nice experience to be present at a second World Cup.

"I arrive in good shape for the World Cup with proper preparations prior to a competition of this importance.

"This trip is special because it's my second World Cup - something unthinkable at this point in my career.

"I have more experience and I will try to transmit that to the squad."

Uruguay also face pool games against South Africa and Mexico, and Abreu is confident the squad will not disappoint their fans.

He added on www.larepublica.com.uy: "This is a great group of people that is united, firm and has clear ideas. We will compete at the highest level and we have the squad to have a good competition.

"We have great confidence and the Uruguay public will continue encouraging us because we will not disappoint them.

"The public is always behind us and we will give everything to maintain the high prestige of Uruguayan football."