The Uruguay soccer team is among the sides that have won the FIFA World Cup. Uruguay has won the cup twice and played some terrific games in the finals. These are a few of the greatest Uruguay games in the FIFA World Cup.
When Uruguay took on Brazil in the 1950 World Cup, they were playing the home team that was cheered on at the Maracana. A record World Cup attendance of 199,854 flocked to the stadium for the final. This was the final group game that Uruguay had to win to clinch the World Cup. If the match was drawn, then Brazil would finish top of the group and win the FIFA World Cup.
During the first half, Brazil scored a goal. Yet, Uruguay held firm in the first half. At halftime, the score remained 0–0, a scoreline that would have won Brazil the World Cup.
In the second half, Brazil took the lead just a couple of minutes after the interval. Uruguay suggested that the goal was offside, but it was still given. If anything, the goal revitalized Uruguay as they pressed for an equalizer, which duly came in the 66th minute. With 11 minutes on the clock, they scored a second goal that silenced the crowd. As the game ended 2–1, Uruguay emerged as world champions in Brazil.
In the 1954 World Cup, England played Uruguay in the quarter-finals. England had a strong team, but Uruguay was the champion. A great Uruguay game was in prospect in Basel.
When the game kicked off, Uruguay took the lead after just five minutes. England got back in the game with an equalizer 10 minutes later. England began to dominate the match and went close with a lob that went just wide of the post. Against the run of play, Uruguay regained the lead just before halftime.
After halftime, Uruguay extended their lead just after the interval with a low shot past England’s goalkeeper. That goal ensured Uruguay’s victory, even though England did pull one back later in the second half. Their victory was sealed with a low shot drilled into the bottom corner of the goal. The game ended 4–2 to Uruguay.
In the South Africa World Cup, the Uruguayan team was inspired by Forlan. They had made it through the group stages and remained in the World Cup by the quarter-finals. In the last eight, they came up against a Ghana team that had won over the support of Africa, as the rest of their teams were already out.
During the first half, the Uruguayans had their chances. The Ghana goalkeeper made a few saves to ensure the score remained 0–0. In the last minutes of the first half, Ghana took the lead with a long-range opener on the stroke of halftime.
Consequently, they were in front at halftime, but Uruguay struck back with a Forlan free-kick from a wide angle. As the game remained 1–1 after 90 minutes, it continued into extra time. During the period, neither team could score a winning goal, but Ghana was given a last-minute penalty. However, as the penalty skimmed the crossbar, Ghana did not win the game.
A penalty shootout followed, in which Ghana converted two penalties. Their missed penalties left Uruguay’s door to the semi-finals open, as they ran out 4–2 winners during the shootout. Uruguay celebrated an enthralling victory, which set up a semi-final clash with Holland.
The matches above remain Uruguay’s greatest World Cup games. Those Uruguay games had some terrific moments and were certainly among the best played at their World Cups. Uruguay will hope for more great matches like those in the upcoming North American World Cup.
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