Royce Franklin, a life member of the Association of Football Statisticians, digs up yet more fascinating facts about football
IN THE group stage of the recent World Cup finals’ games, because of the infamous bite, Uruguay were probably the dominant headline grabbers before the last 16.
Yet with a population of 3,286,314 Uruguay was the least populous nation appearing. They were followed by Costa Rica with 4,667,096, Switzerland 8,160,900, Greece 10,816,286 and Belgium 11,198,638. America was the most heavily-populated by at least 50-per-cent with 381,286,000. Other nations, not noted for their football prowess, were not in the equation, the likes of India and China.
In the early years of the competition Uruguay performed above expectations more than once. The inaugural competition in 1930 was held on home soil when they beat Argentina 4-2 in the final.
In 1934, when it was staged in and won by Italy, Uruguay did not enter in protest against the failure four years earlier of European countries travelling to South America. Only three did – Belgium, Romania and Yugoslavia. You have to remember in those days, though, the journey was three weeks by boat each way.
Uruguay again chose to stay away from the 1938 finals in France because of the attitude of the Europeans in 1930. This time Italy was again victorious.
The finals of 1950 were hosted by Brazil who played Uruguay in the final and even before kick-off one Brazilian newspaper proclaimed: ‘Tomorrow we beat Uruguay’. Alas Uruguay won 2-1 before a crowd of 174,000. Some newspapers suggested 200,000 were in the ground. It was labelled ‘the saddest day in Brazilian football’. After their recent 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semi finals, perhaps they should not have finals in Brazil.
Uruguay knocked out England in 1954 with a 4-2 victory in the quarter final as they finished fourth. In 1966 they were the only team not to be beaten by winners England when the first group-stage fixture ended in a goalless draw.
In later years, as the competition has matured, they finished fourth in both 1970 and 2010, but have predominately failed to qualify.
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