Uruguay clinch last World Cup place
Uruguay made it tricky but they claimed the final spot at the 2010 World Cup.
Winning 1-0 away from home should have set them on easy street and taking a 1-0 in the home tie lead looked to be enough to book their place. However, Costa Rica took a goal back through Walter Centeno, which left them one goal away from knocking the Uruguayans out.
When the fourth official announced there would be seven minutes of injury time, the shock could be heard all around Montevideo. It came to nothing though and Uruguay had sneaked through a World Cup play-off for the second time in a row.
It is fair to say that Uruguay are not amongst the favourites to clinch the World Cup, in fact, if they make the last 16, its likely to be a big surprise for many. However, that was not always the case as Uruguay are wrapped around the very heart of World Cup history.
For starters, when the World Cup was first mooted, Uruguay were arguably the best team in the world.
Their triumph at the Olympics, at the time, the most important football tournament, saw them being asked to host the inaugural World Cup event.
The host nation duly won the event, writing their name into the history books.
Thanks to KINGofSOCCERhistory
This alone would be enough to mark them out as footballing pioneers but their shock triumph in Brazil in 1950 probably changed the world of football for ever.
The passionate Brazil fans were certain their team was going to win the Cup, all they had to do was avoid defeat. This was due to the league system in place as opposed to a knock-out system with a final.
It just so happened it all came down to the Brazil versus Uruguay match in the Maracana Stadium.
Thanks to KINGofSOCCERhistory
The outcome was so famous it was referred to as the Maracanazo, “the Maracana blow” and the outcome on the Brazilian psyche was severe.
It is said that more books have been written on this tournament and match than all of Brazils triumphs put together!
After this game, Brazil decided to ditch their white kit and moved to the now famous gold top and blue shorts combination that bewitches fans everywhere. Brazil has triumphed in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002 since then whereas Uruguay have not came close to matching their peaks. It is funny how football history can turn on a game and that the disaster for Brazil paved the way for the golden generation.
Regardless of Brazils success, it is great to see Uruguay added to the list of teams for the 2010 World Cup.
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