Uruguay Minds Its Manners, Sees Off Portugal

Before Iceland and its cozy population of 330,000 or so appeared on the international football scene, Uruguay was one of the smaller nations to be rubbing elbows with the big dogs.

Well, not exactly rubbing. More like throwing.

Nestled on South America's east coast between Brazil and Argentina, this proud nation of 3.5million citizens had to field scrappy sides just to keep pace.

 

They did it, too. La Celeste -- the Sky Blues -- won FIFA's first-ever World Cup in 1930 and did it again in 1950.

As money got bigger over the following decades, it was tough to keep up with the resources and talent pools of larger nations. So, Uruguayan players pulled no punches keep pace.

 

Their history of practicing the dark arts runs so deep that opponents accept what's coming as a given.

The latest poster boy, of course, is Luis Suárez, whether or not he was playing for his nation:

 

On the bright side, no one came down with rabies.

But really, this had to end, and maybe it has.

When 71-year-old former teacher Óscar Tabárez took over the national team for a second time, he finally decided he'd seen enough. OG said the 2018 World Cup was gonna be different.

 

So far. Plus, it's working.

Uruguay wound up in the mild Group A with host Russia, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. As their reputation preceded them, just being there was enough.

 

The Round of 16 was a surprise, though. No yellows, definitely no reds, and as Tabárez promised, no regard for possession, either.

But just enough goals, and well struck. This one came complements of Suárez providing elite service to Edinson Cavini  in only the 7th minute:

 

Cristiano made thrusts and jabs here and there, but La Celeste contained him most of the match.

Portugal's damage came in the 55th minute, when Rafaël Guerreiro put a cross right on the money to Pepe:

 

However, the chemistry fomented by Tabárez re-appeared on the hour when Rodrigo Bentancur fed a wide open Cavini, propelling Uruguay back into the lead:

 

How much respect did La Celeste garner in a game like this?

Not so much, probably, that Ronaldo's show of sportsmanship to a hobbled Cavini would indicate. The two were on warm terms before this, but it was still a fitting indication of the camaradarie out there. Or something:

 

Ironically, it was Ronaldo who'd get booked in the game's closing moments, arguing too long over a situation that only the desperate would contest.

In the end, though, he'd join Messi on the sidelines of this World Cup.

And that suddenly honorable crew from Uruguay would go on.