Over the course of the last two years, Iceland seem to have carved their niche as everyone’s favourite second team in international football. Amiable, down-to-earth and successful, the exploits of the side from the rocky island in the north Atlantic have been formidable given their population size of fewer than 350,000.
When it comes to the best small nation, though, there is one team that comprehensively pushes them into the shade.
Uruguay may boast a population around 10 times that of the European side, but with fewer than 3.5 citizens at last count, it has apparently little right to enjoy the footballing history that it has built over a century.
Twice world champions – four times in the two Olympic golds claimed before the invent of the World Cup are counted – and have won the Copa America on 15 occasions, more than any other nation, their achievements are incredible.
And it would be wrong to think of these as ancient history, for Uruguay have arrived at Russia 2018 as genuine challengers to claim another crown. Indeed, along with the hosts, they were the first team to secure a place in the last 16, having won their opening two games against Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
They are spearheaded by an awesome attack. Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, of course, capture the headlines as world-class strikers, but beyond then Cristian Stuiani and Maxi Gomez both finished among the top five scorers in La Liga last season.
Beyond them, they offer classy options in the midfield, with Rodrigo Bentancur and Matias Vecino rising stars in Serie A with Juventus and Inter respectively. Against Egypt, their middle four had an average of just 23 from the start, and though it took the introduction of old stagers Carlos Sanchez and Cristian Rodriguez to finally help them see off Egypt 1-0, this is very much a team for tomorrow as well as today.
Jose Maria Gimenez was the hero of that success, heading in a late free kick with a couple of minutes remaining, and at 23 is one of the most promising centre-backs in the world. Alongside him is Atletico Madrid club-mate Diego Godin, with the pair already having shown at club level that they are capable of forming an immensely strong partnership in the heart of the defence.
And in the dugout is the wizened old figure of Oscar Washington Tabarez, the man they call ‘El Maestro’, who even at 71 and walking with a stick is respected by the players and fans as a kid might revere their granddad.
“We have a connection,” Godin said last week. “We have a lot of respect for El Maestro and we learn from him every day.”
Traditionally, one of Uruguay’s chief strengths has been ‘La Garrau Charrua’ – a mindset that is epitomised by grit, determination and a fierce fighting attitude when the odds are against them.
“Psychologically Uruguay feels most comfortable with its back to the wall. It suits being the perennial underdog,” Andreas Campomar, a Uruguayan author, told Reuters in 2014.
Suarez perhaps best encapsulates this idea in the modern team, with his bite of Giorgio Chiellini at World Cup 2014 showing that it is not always a positive attribute. Equally, though, this spirit is capable of yielding incredible results, which have seen him become the national team’s all-time leading marksman.
But while Tabarez is eager for his side to excel in Russia this time around, he wants them to do so in a more technical manner.
“We used to be known for our violent play – whether it was a legitimate accusation or not – and not being known for our fair play,” he said prior to their opening match.
“We have responded to that by creating great footballers.
“We have worked hard at youth level and we only have a little over three million inhabitants. When you produce one great player in Uruguay, that’s equal to 20 in Brazil and 10 in Argentina. Therefore, we have had to approach the game differently compared to everyone else.”
That means retaining the fighting values of the team but complementing them with modern technical ideals.
Uruguay have certainly succeeded in maximising their return from youth level, as their 2018 squad shows. With an average outfield age of a touch over 27, they are poised to be football’s best small nation for a generation of players to come.
