Football: A little nation with a big history

The Fifa Under-20 World Cup is getting closer and closer. What do we know about the four teams making their base in Dunedin? The Otago Daily Times sports department will profile the nations over the next week. Hayden Meikle starts with Uruguay.

Uruguay is in southeast South America, bordered by Brazil and Argentina. And to put it mildly, it's a great country. Democratic, liberal, healthy, peaceful - and it does a great steak. On the down side, it has the longest national anthem in the world.

It is smaller than New Zealand in both land mass and population. With just 3.3 million people, it is extraordinary that Uruguay is so good at football. Speaking of which . . .

Football history: Rather glorious, really. Uruguay won the inaugural World Cup in 1930 (it was the host nation) and added a second in 1950. It also won Olympic gold in 1924 and 1928.

Uruguay is at present eighth in the Fifa rankings. It has previously been as high as No 2.

This is, in short, one of the great football nations. And with a smaller population than New Zealand!

Great players: You think we might mention a certain buck-toothed genius with a bent for cannibalism here? Yes, let's.

Luis Suarez is a god in Uruguay and with good reason. He is one of the world's best strikers, now plying his trade for Champions League finalist Barcelona after a remarkable spell with Liverpool. (Luis, we miss you!)

Other magnificent Uruguayans starring around the world include Paris Saint Germain forward Edinson Cavani and Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin, while Diego Forlan is a hero at home despite being mocked by Manchester United fans after a dismal spell at the club.

Great names from the past include Enzo Francescoli (The Prince) and Juan Schiaffino.

Previous tournaments: Uruguay is appearing at a 13th Under-20 World Cup, and a fifth in succession. La Celeste (the sky blues) were runners-up at the last tournament, in 2013, and also in 1997. They were third in 1979 and fourth in 1977 and 1999.

These kids: A quick tip of the cap here to the official tournament website - even in the information age, finding scouting tips on Uruguayan under-20 footballers is not easy.

Every good team needs a good goalkeeper, and word is Gaston Guruceaga will be one of the best at this tournament. He played a major role in Uruguay conceding just five goals in nine games at the South American under-20 championships.

We also hear good things about midfielder Mauro Arambarri and a lovely playmaker called Gaston Pereiro.

Up front, Franco Acosta is a goal-scoring threat, supplied by brisk wide men Rodrigo Amaral and Facundo Castro.

 

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