FIFA World Cup History – Uruguay
Contrary to popular belief Uruguay are one of the most successful nations in the history of international football. Winning a total of two World Cups, two Olympic Games and fourteen Copa America titles. Although in recent decades Uruguay has not performed up to the mark and as a consequence have been written off as a major footballing power.
The first ever World Cup Uruguay played in, was the FIFA World Cup of 1930, which was hosted by them. The tournament itself was marred by controversy as most of the European nations refused to travel to Uruguay to participate in the World Cup.
After winning both of their group stage matches against Peru and Romania, Uruguay progressed to the Semi finals where they played Yugoslavia and achieved a comprehensive victory as the end result was 6-1 to Uruguay. In the final match of the tournament Uruguay played Argentina. What turned out to be a thrilling encounter was finally won by Uruguay, with the final score of the match 2 -1, in favor of Uruguay.
Uruguay refused to participate in the 1934 FIFA World Cup which was held in Italy because the World Cup was being held in a European state. They also did not participate in the 1938 FIFA World Cup because of the same reason.
The next FIFA World Cup tournament took place in the year 1950. Brazil were the host nation for that particular World Cup. Brazilians themselves were overwhelming favorites to win the World Cup. The format for this world cup was different than any other. The final winner of the tournament was decided after a four team group stage. Whoever topped the group was declared the winner.
Uruguay, Spain, Sweden and Brazil qualified for the final group stage of the competition. Uruguay were one point behind Brazil at the final stage with one game left to play against the hosts. Brazil were on top of the group and only needed a draw against Uruguay to become World Champions. The last match of the final group stage was played at Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro where over 150,000 people watched the event unfold. Brazil took the lead right at the start of the match around the 2nd minute mark but Uruguay equalized later on. Eleven minutes before the end of the match, Uruguay scored again with Alcides Ghiggia and took a 2-1 lead. The match ended with that score line and Uruguay were crowned as the World Champions for second time in their history.
In the 1954 FIFA World Cup, Uruguay made it till the semi finals stage after defeating England 4-2 in the quarter finals. In the semis they were pitched against Hungary. In one of the most amazing matches in World Cup history, Hungarians took the lead in the first half and doubled their advantage soon after the second half commenced. Uruguay rallied themselves to bring the score back to 2-2. The tied scores forced the match into extra time. In extra time Hungary out played Uruguay completely and scored 2 more goals to win it at the end by a score line of 4-2. To compound their misery, Uruguay also lost the third place play-off match to Austria by 3 goals to 1.
Uruguayan football hit an all time low when they failed to qualify for the 1958 World Cup. In the 1962 FIFA World Cup held in Chile, Uruguay failed to go further than the first round after losing their group matches to the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. Uruguay were comparatively more successful in the 1966 FIFA World Cup, where they managed to reach the quarter finals after playing out two draws against Mexico and England while winning against France.
In the quarter finals they played West Germany and lost under suspicious circumstances. Uruguay argued that the referee did not do his job properly after failing to detect a German handball on the goal line. He also sent off two players from Uruguay but FIFA did not pay any interest and Uruguay were knocked out of the tournament.
Uruguay rebuilt their team to participate in the 1970 FIFA World Cup, where they qualified from the group stages to meet Soviet Union in the quarterfinals. The match went into extra time after normal time ended with the score of nil all. Five minutes before the end of extra time Uruguay scored to secure themselves a semi final berth. In the Semis, Uruguay lost to Brazil by a score line of 3 goals to 1. Eventually Uruguay also lost their third place play-off against West Germany and finished fourth at the tournament.
In the next 3 world cups, Uruguay disappointed again as they went out at the first round stage in the 1974 FIFA World Cup and failed to even qualify for the 1978 and 1982 FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Uruguay managed to qualify from their group in the 1986 FIFA World Cup but lost to Argentina at the round of sixteen stage. In the FIFA World Cup of 1990, Uruguay again managed to reach the round of sixteen but lost to Italy. Uruguay failed to qualify for the next two World Cups but played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea & Japan. After losing to Denmark and drawing with Senegal and France, Uruguay were knocked out of the tournament. Uruguay again failed to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Uruguay have a very illustrious World Cup history. They are the smallest nation ever to win the FIFA World Cup and have the prestigious record of being the first ever winners of the tournament in 1930 as well. However, their performances in modern era of football have been short of spectacular and thus Uruguay have been degraded from being power houses of International football to inconsistent minnows of the World Football.
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