From stylistic perfection to mutiny: the history of France against Uruguay | Paul Doyle | Soccer

France 1-5 Uruguay, June 1924

The four stars on the jerseys worn by Luis Suárez and the chums denote the two triumphs of the World Cup of Uruguay (1930 and 1950) and their medals The first Olympic gold medal was won in Paris in 1924. Uruguay had won the South American championship of the previous year but it was their first trip outside their continent and little was known about them in Europe. But they seemed to be nice guys, so a Yugoslavian player felt excited in advance for having beaten them in the first round. He was sorry, okay, when Uruguay won 7-0

The Celeste followed with a 3-0 win over the United States. Europeans have been proud of their impeccable technique and hobby – "it's stylistic perfection" – said La Gazzetta dello Sport – and the French public has fallen in love with one of its players, the elegant midfielder Jose Leandro Andrade. Marvel

Uruguay has enjoyed Parisian hospitality – especially Parisian women – to such an extent that they have agreed to let off steam in France in the quarterfinals and are content with a victory of only one goal. It was so that things were evolving until the second half, when Uruguay led 2-1, Andrade took it to a Frenchman, after which he was mocked by the public every time he touched the balloon

What Andrade, who was out of poverty and was a carnival violinist, among other things, was a bon vivant in the field, but a clbad artist and had such a sense of decency that he viewed as a brutal triumphalism. . So being taunted has prompted him to teach the locals a thing or three. Sashaying through home defense, he handed out a volley of goals and inspired Uruguay to a 5-1 win. They then beat the Netherlands and Switzerland to win the gold medal. Four of the team members, including Andrade, won it again four years later and also won the first World Cup in 1930.

France 1-2 Uruguay, July 1966

The countries renewed their knowledge in the White City stadium in London for a clash in a group that also included the hosts of the World Cup. Uruguay had opened its campaign by becoming the first team for 17 years to prevent England from scoring at home, now Alf Ramsey's team at a 0-0 draw with a demo defensive force that terrified and impressed the local crowd. "There is no doubt that if I were to watch Uruguay every week, I should soon be looking for a more interesting job," writes Douglas Saunders in the Daily Telegraph. "It does not change my view that they adopted good politics last night and have used it with admirable efficiency."

In their next match, against France, Uruguay had to move to the front after a contentious early penalty, awarded for a foul committed outside the box. The kick was converted by Héctor De Bourgoing, who, after many quarrels, had obtained from Fifa permission to play for Les Bleus after representing Argentina, where he was born into an aristocratic family of French owners. But France did not stay long in the lead, caught by Pedro Rocha and Julio Cortés.