World Cup qualifiers: Heartbreak

In keeping with their tradition of doing things the hard way, Uruguay - for the fourth consecutive campaign - must go through a play-off to join the World Cup extravaganza.

A 3-2 home victory over Argentina thursday morning (Singapore time) came too little, too late, for them to clinch an automatic spot.

The 1-0 loss to Ecuador in their previous game had virtually ended their hopes of finishing in the top four South American places due to an inferior goal difference.

Two games against Asian side Jordan next month will decide their fate.

But it's a ritual they should be familiar with by now and the experience will come in handy.

For the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, they edged past Australia and Costa Rica respectively to make it to the tournament proper.

The 2006 experience, though, when they lost out to the Socceroos, will serve as a cautionary tale.

But the gap in quality between Uruguay and Jordan is one which the Asians are neither equipped nor ready to bridge.

Oscar Tabarez should have few fears following their fine performance against the Albiceleste.

METTLE

Never mind that the visitors fielded a second-string side, as they had already confirmed top spot before the game.

Even without some of their biggest stars, Argentina had the strength in depth to test any team's mettle.

But Uruguay signed off with a confident performance that underlined the quality that they too often failed to show in their qualifying campaign.

Goals from Cristian Rodriguez, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani overcame an Argentina team who responded with two goals by Maxi Rodriguez.

In particular, Suarez, whose strike came from the penalty spot, and Cavani, were dangerous from start to finish.

In the duo, the 2011 Copa America champions have one of the most lethal strike partnerships in world football.

Jordan, on the other hand, are minnows at this level.

In regulation time, they managed no more than draws against Asian Football Confederation opponents in their last five games in all competitions, including Oman, Kuwait, Uzbekistan and Syria.

Even their play-off ticket against Uruguay came via a penalty shoot-out win over Uzbekistan, after two laborious 1-1 draws.

Four years ago, Uruguay made it to South Africa through the backdoor and eventually came within a whisker of reaching the final.

They will get past Jordan for sure. Such is the mismatch.

And they will still be a force to be reckoned with in Brazil next year.

They're just doing things the Uruguayan way.

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