Despite loss, Uruguay celebrates in high spirits

Despite loss, Uruguay celebrates in high spirits
Jul 10, 2010, 23:28 GMT

Buenos Aires/Montevideo - Uruguay may have lost the door prize of third place to Germany 2:3 in the World Cup playoff in South Africa, but it still had a high time celebrating its national team Saturday.

While the numbers may have dropped a bit compared to past enthusiasm as their team worked its way to the top, there were still plenty of fans who donned the team colours blue and white and went into the streets to express thanks and pride in Oscar Tabarez, the national coach, and the player-heroes.

They'll be greeted Monday with a triumphant celebration when they return home.

The re-occuring mantra of the fetes was that 'it was once of the best games of the whole World Cup.'

Many saw Saturday's game against Germany as 'David versus Goliath.'

'Such a defeat wasn't so painful,' said a fan named Diego, who watched the game with friends at an 'Asado,' a typical grill festival with lots of meat and red wine.

After the final whistle, while the Germans climbed to the victory podium in South Africa, Uruguayans drove their automobiles all over the country decorated with national flags and honking their horns.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/sport/soccer/article_1569933.php/Despite-loss-Uruguay-celebrates-in-high-spirits

Uruguay's Diego Forlan was awarded the "Golden Ball" after being voted the best player by the thousands of journalists from around the world who covered the tournament.

Uruguay became the Cinderella of the World Cup. The team was the very LAST to qualify, the 32nd squad, because it had to beat Costa Rica in a home-and-away playoff.

The "charruas" will get a heroes' welcome in Montevideo.

Not bad for such a tiny country, considering that neighboring football giants Brazil and Argentina did not make the final four.