Montevideo, Uruguay, Feb 15: Luis Suarez has been called up to Uruguay's national team despite the recent furor surrounding the Liverpool striker.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez named the squad Tuesday for an international friendly against Romania on Feb. 29 in Bucharest.
Tabarez also included forwards Diego Forlan and Edinson Cavani, who helped Uruguay win last year's Copa America — the continental championship.
Suarez refused to shake hands with Patrice Evra of Manchester United before last Saturday's Premier League game at Old Trafford. It was the players' first meeting since Suarez was banned for eight matches for racially abusing the Manchester United defender in October.
Suarez apologized for not shaking Evra's hand the following day, with Liverpool's main commercial sponsor raising concerns with the club over the incident.
Uruguay has been the best team recently in South America, finishing fourth in the 2010 World Cup despite a population of only 3.5 million. Uruguay also tops early South American qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Rio de Janeiro.
Team:
Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martin Silva (Olimpia, Paraguay)
Defenders: Diego Lugano (Paris Saint Germain), Diego Godin, (Atletico de Madrid), Sebastian Coates, (Liverpool), Maximiliano Pereira, (Benfica), Martin Caceres, (Juventus), Jorge Fucile, (Santos), Gaston Ramirez (Bologna), Mauricio Victorino, (Cruzeiro).
Midfielders: Alvaro Gonzalez, (Lazio), Egidio Arevalo Rios, (Tijuana), Walter Gargano, (Napoli), Sebastian Eguren, (Sporting Gijon), Diego Perez, (Bologna), Nicolas Lodeiro, (Ajax), Cristian Rodriguez (Porto).
Forwards: Diego Forlan (Inter Milan), Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Abel Hernandez, (Palermo), Edinson Cavani, (Napoli), Sebastian Abreu (Botafogo), Sebastian Fernandez (Malaga).
