FIFA WORLD CUP 2014
Uruguay face a good Colombian side in their last 16 match after beating Italy in their final do-or-die group game. The game was marred by controversy as star player Luis Suarez has been banned for 9 international matches after 'biting' Azzuri defender Giorgio Chiellini. Uruguay will surely miss him, the last time he didn't play, they slumped to a 3-1 defeat in their opener against underdogs Costa Rica.
AFP
Having come fifth in South America, they faced and defeated Jordan with ease in a play-off. The team is not dissimilar from the one that made the semi-finals at the 2010 World Cup and then won the 2011 Copa America, except that since then two of their players have become global superstars. With Luis Suarez banned for the rest of the competition, the onus would be on Diego Forlan and Paris Saint Germain's mega purchase Edinson Cavani, who also has a ferocious hunger for goals, Uruguay look set to terrorise opposition defences. With these two and Uruguay's impressive tournament record, they should be considered a potential winner.
AFP
Country Profile:
Population: 3.28 million
Area: 176,215 km2
Capital: Montevideo
Currency: Uruguayan Peso
Federation: Asociación Uruguaya de Fútbol (AUF) founded in 1900 and affiliated to FIFA in 1923.
Registered players: 41,800
Colours: Blue shirts, black shorts, black socks.
World Cup appearances: 12 (1930, 1950, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1986, 1990, 2002, 2010, 2014).
World Cup honours: winner (1930, 1950), semi-finalists (1954, 1970), fourth (2010), quarter-finalists (1966), second round (1986, 1990), first round (1962, 1974, 2002).
Copa America: Winner (1916, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1935, 1942, 1956, 1959, 1967, 1983, 1987, 1995, 2011), finalist (1919, 1927, 1939, 1941, 1989, 1999), 3rd (1921, 1922, 1929, 1937, 1947, 1953, 1957, 1975, 2004), 4th (1925, 1945, 1946, 1955, 2001, 2007).
AFP
How they qualified: Finished fifth in AMSUD Zone with 25 points behind Argentina 32, Colombia 30, Chile 28 and Ecuador 25, with 7 wins, 4 draws and 5 defeats, 25 goals for and 25 against. Then beat Jordan in a play-off 5-0 away and 0-0 at home.
Top clubs: Penarol, Nacional, Defensor, Danubio.
Key players: Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, Diego Forlan and Diego Lugano.
Coach Oscar Tabarez (since March 2006)
It is difficult to say quite why they struggled during a South American qualifying campain which saw them concede four goals against their rivals on three separate occasions. Colombia beat them 4-0, while Argentina and Bolivia both recorded 4-1 victories over Oscar Tabarez's side. Fortunately for Uruguay, group winners Argentina were already qualified when the two sides met and the Uruguayans edged them 3-2 on the final day to just make the cut for the play off. So on paper it looks discouraging for Uruguay ahead of taking on Italy, England and Costa Rica in the World Cup group phase.
AFP
.35-year-old Diego Forlan, who is now at Cerezo Osaka in Japan, and with five goals at the 2010 World Cup was voted player of that tournament. Diego Lugano is a different case. The 34-year-old defender, who was recently released by West Brom, seems a liability at times but is firmly installed as the team captain. The midfield looks stronger with the likes of Cristian Rodriguez of Atletico Madrid and the defensive midfielder Walter Gargano of Parma. Following the disastrous campaign for the 2006 World Cup former coach Jorge Fossati was ousted in favour of Oscar Tabarez who also occupied the post for the 1990 tournament. The now 67-year-old is still in place. And Tabarez is a firm believer in his team playing with the staggeringly relentless intentensity and agression known as "garra charrua".
JEE Main 2025 Toppers List Released: Meet 14 candidates who scored 100 percentile this year
JEE Main Result 2025 DECLARED: Get direct link, steps to check NTA score and other details HERE
SHOCKING! Noida family held under ‘digital arrest’ for 5 days, loses Rs 1 crore to cyber fraud
Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna shoot for Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar in Mumbai, pictures get leaked
Why are hobby classes integral to Podar International School’s curriculum in Khopoli?
Mukesh Ambani buys Rs 6437604000 stake in THIS cricket team, not Mumbai Indians
World's richest man Elon Musk loses Rs 789330000000 in four days, net worth slips below Rs...
'Need global standards': PM Modi pushes for AI governance at Paris AI Summit
Ashutosh Rana slams Prabhas, Saif Ali Khan-starrer Adipurush: 'Audiences will not accept...'
Ahead of PM Modi-Donald Trump meet, India considers cutting tariffs on THESE items imported from US
Communication platforms are fast evolving into super apps
Mumbai Police reaches Ranveer Allahbadia's home in connection to India's Got Latent controversy
Junaid Khan says Aamir Khan, Reena Dutta spent ‘ridongculous’ amount on his...
Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant's warm gesture towards kid wins internet, watch viral video
Ajith Kumar recalls 'bad crash’ ahead of Portugal race: ‘When I crashed...'
India's Got Latent episode feat Ranveer Allahbadia blocked after government orders
Samay Raina performs in Seattle, enjoys with friends amid Ranveer Allahbadia controversy
Good news for Gautam Adani as Adani stocks rally up to 4.5% due to Donald Trump's this BIG move...
Amid rumours of dissent, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal holds meeting with Punjab CM Mann, MLAs in Delhi
Woman makes 'Valentine edition parantha' for husband, netizens amused, watch viral video
How cashless treatment and telemedicine are transforming health insurance plans in India?
Top 3 astrologers of India: Newly updated list of 2025
A complete guide to documents needed for a personal loan
Mitolyn Reviews and Complaints - Mitolyn Supplement - Mitolyn Reviews Consumer Reports
Muslim wedding card goes viral for THIS bizarre reason, leaves netizens amused, check here
Surat: School students parade luxury cars to celebrate farewell, probe underway, watch viral video
Elon Musk offers this huge amount to buy ChatGPT maker OpenAI, Sam Altman says 'no thank you but...'
Pune: Pakistani currency note found in housing society near National Defence Academy; probe on
YouTube removes Ranveer Allahbadia's controversial video after Modi government's notice
Here's why Not Like Us singer Kendrick Lamar won't get paid for Super Bowl Halftime Show performance
Meet Samay Raina, creator of India's Got Latent, accused of promoting vulgarity, he is from...
Bank Holiday February 2025: Banks to remain closed in THIS state today due to...
Donald Trump issues BIG warning to Hamas, says 'all hell will break out' if...
Anil Ambani's RCap buy: Hinduja Group firm set to acquire debt-ridden Reliance Capital by THIS date
Meet man, MBA graduate from Harvard, who leads one of world’s big tech firms as CEO, he is...
Delhi-Dehradun Expressway opens, check travel time, toll fee and more
What happens during Snow Moon and when does it appear? Check dates and when to see
‘RBI’s gold buying is...’: FM Nirmala Sitharaman talks about rising gold reserves by central bank
Meet the Muslim king all set to challenge Donald Trump over Gaza, he is from...
Ranveer Allahbadia’s viral joke on Samay Raina's India's Got Latent was stolen! The original was...
THIS Indian billionaire carries coffin of his employee, netizens call him ‘true leader’
Days after Jeet Adani-Diva Shah's marriage, Gautam Adani set to spend Rs 6000 crore on...
'Please let me stay the night:' Female trainee asked to leave Infosys premises at 6 pm even after...
Auto driver’s son studies at IIT, but luxury hotel refuses his auto's entry, billionaire calls it...
Who is Kuldeep Sharma? Ex-IPS gets three-month jail term in...
Meet woman, who lived in village, later got job at Amazon, now working in US as...
Beef Biryani Row Explained: Police file FIR day after incident at AMU; here's what happened
Meet Anant Ahuja, Sonam Kapoor's brother-in-law who reportedly got Rs 6.56 cr by USAID
BIG move by Mukesh Ambani, launches Rs 10 product with former cricket star, it is...
Car gets stuck in wheat field in the dead of night, know what Google Maps error caused later
The Chabahar Puzzle: India’s Connectivity Dreams in US-Iran Turmoil
Delhi: Girls showcase their skills, strength in netball, Aali and Lal Kuan emerge winners
Elon Musk reacts to UK MP’s demand to replace 'Bengali' signboard at London Station, check here
Anupam Mittal's unique gift to Gautam Adani's son Jeet Adani will leave you in splits
Man dies after being sexually assaulted in Delhi, one arrested, this is what happened
After Deepinder Goyal's Zomato, here is the list of Indian companies that recently rebranded
Life Insurance Quotes Explained: Guide to securing your family’s financial future