Uruguay remains a curious case in world football. Early Olympic and World Cup triumphs made it the game's first global power, and the small country has punched above its weight ever since. But the story behind its success is untold. In this first English-language history of Uruguayan football, Martin da Cruz maps the game's journey from exclusive British pastime to Uruguayan national passion, bringing to life the teams, players and personalities who helped create one of the world's most intense sporting cultures. From the start, football was intimately tied to Uruguay's national story. Wedged between giants Argentina and Brazil and lacking a cohesive national identity, Uruguay used the game to create unified and educated citizens, to put an end to civil war and become an advanced social democracy. Yet football also drove counter-narratives of class and race, challenging Uruguay's self-identification as a peaceful, 'white' nation. From Beauty to Duty is the story of a little country made big.

About the Author
Martin da Cruz is a football historian and writer. A graduate in Latin American history, he specialises in early Uruguayan football and national identity. He has contributed to The Blizzard and is a founding member of the Uruguayan Football Historians and Researchers Association (AHIFU).


Book Information
ISBN 9781801501491
Author Martin da Cruz
Format Hardback
Page Count 352
Imprint Pitch Publishing Ltd
Publisher Pitch Publishing Ltd
Weight(grams) 504g