FIFA World Cup 2010: Uruguay's dream run in South Africa
Just about a month ago when South Africa 2010 kicked-off, even Oscar Tabarez, Diego Forlan or Luis Suarez would have dreamt about reaching the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup. However, the La Celeste were knocked-out of the tournament by a superior Dutch side in a pulsating encounter.
Uruguay left the FIFA World Cup 2010 with their heads held-up high after progressing to the semi-finals in South Africa. However, it’s not over yet as they can still finish at the third place at this years’ competition as they are yet to play Germany – the other losing semi-finalist – in a playoff match.
Although their hopes of making it to their first World Cup final since 1950 were quashed by a superior Dutch side, but the people of Uruguay are happy with their teams performance and have managed to regain some part of its lost football glory.
Many of the Uruguayans value the fact that they reached the last four of the world’s most prestigious football competition and reaching a semi-final is no mean feat. As a result, Uruguay has found a reason to smile event in the face of defeat.
Fans are proud to see a small country like Uruguay excelling in the biggest stage of them all as against the crumbling power houses of football today. Where England, France and Italy failed miserably, Uruguay stunned the world with their mesmeric performances. The Uruguayan fans are proud of the team as they fought till the end and never gave up.
Alfredo Bueno, a 38-year-old farmer hailing for Uruguay said this is the first time in his life that he felt so enthusiastic about a World Cup. Veronica Silvera, another football fanatic, claimed that even though the team lost, but she felt very proud of her national team.
It has been more than 50 years since Uruguay made it to the final of World Cup and for a certain age group, Uruguay’s World Cup wins in the past are too old to remember. However, this years’ runs has made everyone proud of their country’s football team and are feeling enthusiastic about the game.
Gabriella Santos, another young Uruguayan football buff said that Uruguay was the last team to qualify for the World Cup after a not so impressive qualifying campaign and needed a play-off win to secure their place.
La Celeste have been crowned the kings of the footballing world on two occasions in the past; their first triumph came at the inaugural edition of the World Cup when they beat Argentina in the final at their home turf and then again after a 20-year gap in Rio De Janeiro where they turned around a one goal deficit to a win against all odds.
Their epic run to the semi-finals in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2010 was a cause of massive celebration throughout the country as they celebrated with the greatest of zest and fervour. However, the wins after a nail biting and dramatic encounter against Ghana in the quarter-final lead to celebrations which went into over drive.
Fans were chanting their team’s names, beeping car horns and waving flags in Montevideo, where they watched the match on huge screens specially set up for the match.
Such is the euphoria in the country that the football team is guaranteed a hero’s welcome at home and its nothing less than they deserve. After all, progressing beyond the likes of Argentina and Brazil is no mean feat in football and Uruguay have proved to be a solid team.
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