Uruguay may be last in the English alphabet in this World Cup but in two important ways they are first.
They were the first nation to host a World Cup (in 1930) and the first to win it that same year. They have also won it again, and finished in the top four three times too.
The qualification of Iceland at this tournament was remarkable for, as we noted in an earlier blog, it is a country with the population of a single London Borough. Uruguay has arguably achieved something more remarkable because its achievements span 80 years of World Cups.
Every other nation that has won a World Cup has had a population at least 10 times that of Uruguay, usually 20 times or more. And remember, Uruguay has won it twice and sustained some success right through to the 21st century.
Perhaps more than any other country Uruguay ARE the World Cup. Certainly Brazil are closely identified with it, but we all know other things about Brazil (beaches, rainforests, coffee, nuts, carnival). Every European country has other associations than World Cup football that readily come to mind. But Uruguay? I've never even met anyone whose visited Uruguay, or if they have then they couldn't be bothered to tell me about it. In my experience if I think of Uruguay I think of the World Cup.
It reminds me of the man who, in Jesus' parable, received the one talent. The man whose master had given him five made five more, the one given two made two more and alike they are pleasing. The man with only one talent did nothing with it and incurred his master's deep displeasure.
Life, population, or whatever, does not offer equal opportunities to all. Uruguay ends my blogging on this year's World Cup by reminding us to do something with what life offers us - and especially with the gift of grace that is offered in the Saviour of the World, the Lord Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment