WC2010 review: Uruguay

Uruguay exceeded all expectations in South Africa this year.

Most onlookers probably didn’t expect them to get past the group stage where they came up against France, Mexico and the hosts South Africa but they took almost all before them to play-off against Germany in the third-place match.

They fought hard to get past South Korea in the Round of 16 and were fortunate against Ghana in the quarter-final then were narrowly beaten by Holland for a place in the final.

Diego Forlan turned back the clock and performed brilliantly, scoring the equal most goals whilst taking out the Golden Ball for best overall player and his showing was a main reason for La Celeste’s fourth-placed finish but he left South Africa slightly empty after coming so close from a team perspective.

“I’m very happy about this award and the goals I scored, but to be honest I’m heading home a little sad because, having watched the Final, it hit me how close we were to playing in it. Losing the semi-final was a really cruel blow, which took me a couple of days to get over and which I still find hard to swallow,” he told FIFA.com.

Finished: 4th
Record: Wins – 4; Draws – 1; Losses – 2; Points – 7
Matches: France (0-0), South Africa (3-0), Mexico (1-0), RO16-South Korea (2-1), QF-Ghana (1p-1), SF-Holland (2-3), 3P-Germany (2-3)
Goals: 11
Against: 8

tribalfootball.com’s Star Man
Diego Forlan (Was simply brilliant, netting five goals and creating many other chances. Won the Golden Ball for best player at South Africa 2010)

Official statistics

Minutes played
Fernando Muslera 660
Maxi Pereira 660
Egidio Arevalo 660
Diego Forlan 654
Diego Perez 644

Top scorers
Diego Forlan 5
Luis Suarez 3
Edinson Cavani 1
Alvaro Pereira 1
Maxi Pereira 1

Total shots
Diego Forlan 32
Luis Suarez 25
Edinson Cavani 10
Maxi Pereira 10

Pass Completion Rate
Diego Godin 72%
diego Lugano 72%
Diego Perez 67%
Maxi Pereira 65%

Most Fouls
Diego Perez 16
Luis Suarez 15
Maxi Pereira 9
Edinson Cavani 8

Yellow cards
Jorge Fucile 2
Diego Perez 2
Martin Caceres 1
Mauricio Victorino 1
Egidio Arevalo 1
Diego Lugano 1
Maxi Pereira 1

Red cards
Nicolas Lodeiro1 (2 yellow cards)

Saves
Fernando Muslera 22