Uruguay – World Cup 2010 preview #4 (Group A)

Uruguay

Appearances at World Cup finals: 10 – This will be Uruguay’s 11th appearance at a World Cup and their first since 2002.

Best ever performance: You have to go back 60 years for Uruguay’s best ever performance – winners and world champions in 1950, and in 1930 before that.

Famous moment in WC history: 1930 or 1950? Take your pick. As hosts of the first ever World Cup Uruguay progressed to the final on home soil in Montevideo, coming from 2-1 down to beat neighbours Argentina to claim the crown in it’s inaugural year. 20 years later, they did it again, shocking hosts Brazil on their own home soil to provide one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history and indeed one of the most collectively mourned incidents of disaster in Brazilian history – the famous Maracanazo.

The Lowdown: Though a nation of just 3 million people, Uruguay have  a proud World Cup history and tradition. So while it might be a dream too far to expect La Celeste to relive the glory days of World Cups past, is pursuing a dream not ultimately what such competitions are all about?

That said, Uruguay find themselves in a deceptively tricky group, alongside France, Mexico and hosts South Africa. France, for all their problems, still have world class players in several positions. In CONCACAF qualifying, Mexico proved themselves a superior outfit to the Costa Rica side Uruguay only narrowly beat in the playoffs. And South Africa have the weight of a nation behind them. This is far from a straightforward group for Uruguay, and they will need some big performances to go through.

Oscar Tabarez is likely to continue with a 3-5-2 formation, with either one or two holding midfielders. With France up first the plan will probably be to stifle, meaning a 3-4-1-2 with Walter Gargano and Diego Perez helping the three centre backs in defence and holding in midfield. The key to Uruguay’s potential success in South Africa is in the front two – the highly gifted strikeforce that is Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez. They must make the most of any chances that come their way if Uruguay are to advance past the group stage for the first time since 1990.

Qualification: At one stage Uruguay looked out of the running for this World Cup, seemingly dead and buried after a 4-0 home defeat against Brazil that stunned the nation and an embarrassing 1-0 away at rock bottom Peru. They fell to 7th out of 10 in South American qualifying, needing at least 5th place to have any chance of making it to South Africa.

Matters took a turn for the better in Uruguay’s next two games though, when La Celeste managed to beat Colombia 3-1 at home and then snatch victory in stoppage time in Quito, courtesy of a last minute penalty winner from Diego Forlan. Defeat to Argentina in the final game condemned Uruguay to the playoffs, but thanks to an inspired captain’s performance and goal from Diego Lugano, Uruguay went to Costa Rica in the first leg and got the win.

A second leg draw in Montevideo was all that was required therefore, and Uruguay just about managed it to make it to their first World Cup in eight years.

Top scorer in qualifying: Diego Forlan – 7 goals

All-time World Cup finals top scorer: Oscar Míguez, Juan Alberto Schiaffino – 7

The Manager: Oscar Tabarez. Has already coached the Uruguay national team once before, guiding them to the second round at Italia ‘90, and hopes to emulate that 20 years on. “This group is wide open – any of the four teams have the chance to go through,” he believes, and Tabarez will look to instil consistency into what is a very unpredictable side.

Key Player: Diego Forlan. Luis Suarez is also crucial to the team, but Forlan is the lynchpin of the side, one of Uruguay’s most experienced players and one of the country’s most famous faces. 23 goals in 61 caps highlight the Atletico Madrid forward’s ability in front of goal.

One to Watch: Nicolas Lodeiro. The tricky playmaker is just the sort of player Uruguay need to link midfield with attack, and his emergence perhaps unsurprisingly coincided with Uruguay reaching their first World Cup in 8 years. Though he has hardly featured for new club Ajax,  Lodeiro offers the wit, intelligence and passing skills that will be very important for Uruguay. Tabarez needs someone to sit just behind the strikers and supply through balls to Suarez and Forlan upfront. Nicolas Lodeiro could be their man.

On the move?: Luis Suarez. 74 goals in 100 games is a phenomenal record, and several major European clubs are swooping. A similarly successful World Cup could force Ajax to cash in.

Tomorrow on Just Football – Group B.

Group A, Uruguay, World Cup 2010