Team profile

A great team in the first half of the 20th century, Uruguay have struggled to live up to their famous history ever since, but they travel to South Africa with the potential to be one of the tournament's surprise packages. While the prospect of lifting the World Cup for a third time following their victories in 1930 and 1950 may be an unrealistic ambition, La Celeste certainly have the players to trouble Group A rivals, France, Mexico and South Africa.

Oscar Tabarez's side is blessed with a mixture of outstanding strikers, young talent and the old Uruguayan fighting spirit. But despite their undoubted talents, Tabarez's men made hard work of qualifying, managing just three wins in their opening 10 matches before redeeming themselves with wins over Colombia and Ecuador to set up a two-legged play-off against Costa Rica. Expectations at home are not high, but Tabarez believes his team will give a good account of themselves in South Africa: "I believe that we can cause a surprise as not much is expected of us."

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