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Exited in the QF
Uruguay
Uruguay ran a very efficient World Cup campaign. They were solid in defence and won all their group games with clean sheets, the only team to do so. Against Portugal in the Round of 16, their high-profile striking pair of Suarez and Cavani combined as Cavani scored two memorable goals in a resounding win. Cavani’s injury in that game put paid to their progress in the next round though as they met eventual champions France. Once France had scored Uruguay hardly stood a chance and the image of a tearful Jose Gimenez even before the final whistle was blown was reminiscent of a campaign which was fought hard, passionately but had eventually met its rightful end – at the hands of Champions.
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Brazil
There is hardly a World Cup where Brazil do not enter as favourites. The bookies gave them the best chance this time too. Their campaign though was a challenging one interspersed with flashes of brilliance. Philippe Coutinho represented Brazil’s beautiful game the best. They were smooth against Mexico and their persistence against Belgium urged you to love them more.
However, Neymar’s on-field theatre made more entries in the bloopers section playing its part in a campaign that was halted at the Quarter Finals. Scores of confident fans who had bought tickets for the Semi and Finals were left chanting “Braaazil - Braaazil” aimlessly while watching the Europeans fight out for the positions.
Sweden
Sweden entered battle-ready. They had come through from a hard-fought qualifying campaign without their best player who did not commit to them and then managed to stave of his attempts for a back-door entry – little surprise they went far in the tournament then.
They only scored twice in their first two games which ended in a win and a defeat but defended with immense organisation. It appeared they lacked the fire-power to score more than one but against all-odds scored thrice in their last encounter against Mexico to finish top of the group. They were efficient enough to get a win against Switzerland, but the lack of genuine firepower upfront meant that their campaign ended in the quarterfinals at the hands of England.
