They're inconsistent and rely on a 21-year-old, but as Henry Mance reports, Uruguay will always give it their best shot...
Never write off the Uruguayans. This is a country that enjoys triumph in adversity: locals draw a line from the 1950 Final victory in the Maracana to the play-off wins that have taken them to the last two World Cups â even if they know that itâÂÂs not as much a line as a downwards slope.
So fancy a cliché or two about UruguayâÂÂs legendary garra charrúa or Indian fighting spirit? Diego Forlan doesnâÂÂt mind if you do. âÂÂItâÂÂs not a myth. We play tough, we have done for years and itâÂÂs now something intrinsic to the national team,â says the captain.
ItâÂÂs clear England arenâÂÂt the only ones looking forward to a winter World Cup. âÂÂWeâÂÂll be in a city which will seem like Montevideo,â enthuses coach Oscar Washingon Tabarez. "WeâÂÂre going to arrive already adapted to the climate."
In fact Tabarez is optimistic all round, even though Uruguay are drawn against France, Mexico and South Africa. âÂÂThis is not a group of death... ItâÂÂs open for any team.âÂÂ
Strengths
After years of divisions â between players from Nacional and Penarol, and between players based at home and those abroad â this Uruguay squad appears unified and motivated, with Tabarez gradually excluding disruptive players. And after trying three comedy goalkeepers, the coach also seems to have found a serious one: LazioâÂÂs Fernando Muslera.
Weaknesses
The qualifiers showed their alarming inconsistency â Uruguay ran Brazil close in Sao Paulo, then capitulated 4-0 to them in Montevideo. Coach Tabarez attributes that to the transition from one generation of players to the next, but that process is far from complete.
The creative burden, for example, lies squarely on shoulders of Ajax star Nicolas Lodeiro, 21, who only came into the team during the play-off with Costa Rica; it probably won't help that he's being being labelled the Uruguayan Messi. And at the back, versatile Juventus defender Martin Caceres has missed much of the season through injury and was a doubt for the finals.
Interesting fact
Alcides Ghiggia, who scored the winner against Brazil in 1950, is the only survivor of that Uruguay team; at 83, he's the oldest man alive to have scored in a World Cup Final.
The Coach: Oscar Washington Tabarez
Tabarez first took Uruguay to the World Cup in 1990 â the last time they got into second round. Since returning to the national set-up in 2006, he has won plaudits for his independence and strictness.
Key Player: Diego Forlan
Relatively subdued for Atletico Madrid this season, Forlan has massive responsibility as creator and goalscorer for Uruguay. This is presumably his last chance to improve his current World Cup goals tally of one.
Probable Team (4-4-2): Muslera; M Pereira, Godin, Lugano, Caceres; Perez, Gargano, A Pereira, Lodeiro; Forlan, Suarez.
World Cup Talentspotter: More details on the players
INTERVIEW: Diego Forlan on Uruguay, England and what would happen if Wales won the World Cup
Q&A: FFT interviews a player from every nation
Fixtures
France, June 11, 7.30pm, Cape Town
South Africa, June 16, 7.30pm, Tshwane/Pretoria
Mexico, June 22, 8pm, Rustenburg
Qualified Fifth in CONMEBOL group
Bolivia (H) 5-0
Paraguay (A) 0-1
Chile (H) 2-2
Brazil (A) 2-1
Venezuela (H) 1-1
Peru (H) 6-0
Colombia (A) 1-0
Ecuador (H) 0-0
Argentina (A) 1-2
Bolivia (A) 2-2
Paraguay (H) 2-0
Chile (H) 0-0
Brazil (H) 0-4
Venezuela (A) 2-2
Peru (A) 0-1
Colombia (H) 3-1
Ecuador (A) 2-1
Argentina (H) 0-1
Play-off
Costa Rica (A) 1-0
Costa Rica (H) 1-1
World Cup record
1930 Winners
1950 Winners
1954 Semi-Final
1962 1st Round
1966 Quarter-Final
1970 Semi-Final
1974 1st Round
1986 2nd Round
1990 2nd Round
2002 1st Round
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