Monday 17 May 2010

URUGUAY

THEY ARE:
Uruguay is a country in South American which is now sadly best known for their mention in The Simpsons where Homer Simpson looks at a globe and comments “look at the name of this country: U R Gay”

AS A FOOTBALL NATION:
With Manchester City-esqe kits Uruguay these days are something of the South American also rans, the poor relatives of Brazil and Argentina despite the fact that they won the first ever World Cup back in 1930. They then won the tournament again in 1950. They only just qualified for this tournament by beating Costa Rica over two legs in a play off after finishing only fifth in the South American qualification group.

MY OWN EXPERIENCE:
The first World Cup I ever watched was the 1986 tournament in Mexico and at the time I was a big fan of Denmark (especially Jan Molby) and Uruguay were in the same group as them, West Germany and Scotland which was that tournament’s “Group Of Death.” Famously against Scotland they had Jose Batista sent off after 56 seconds (a World Cup record that remains today) and then against Denmark they found themselves on the receiving end of a 6-1 defeat, a game that I watched over and over on the VHS tape it was on (and I still have).

IN 2010:
Having not qualified confidently they seem doomed to only get in the way although Group A isn’t necessarily the strongest in the tournament.

FAMOUS PLAYERS:
These days it is Diego Forlan but back in the day it was Enzo Francescoli.

MOST OBVIOUS REFERENCE:
Telecommunications.

AWAY FROM FOOTBALL:
Known for battling for independence.

NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM URUGUAY THAT I KNOW:
None.

QUOTE FROM A URUGUAYIAN:
Not coming.

DO I LIKE THEM:
They’re usually tasty.

FINAL COMMENT:
Need to know.

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