Uruguay claimed its record 15th Copa América championship on Sunday 24th July, defeating Paraguay in the final, 3-0, at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. Luis Suárez scored Uruguay’s first goal — his fourth of the tournament — and Diego Forlán scored two more for the champions.
Luis Suarez was the best player at the 2011 Copa America
About 60,000 fans packed the Centenario stadium to celebrate with their heroes. The fans staged an all night party after the team secured a record breaking 15th Copa America title, one more than Argentina. Everywhere you looked, you could see people cheering and dancing, waving Uruguay’s flag. The players set out on a victory lap right after they entered the stadium. Captain Diego Lugano held the cup high for all to see.
The Uruguayan football team had last won the title in 1995. Coach Oscar Tabarez and his players joined the fans and tallied to 15 for each of their Copa titles. The players and fans also sang the national anthem before a fireworks display rounded off the celebrations inside the stadium. The party, however, is not likely to end for some time in this football mad country we also know as Uruguay.
Uruguay won fairly and played better. Uruguay is a beautiful champion
-Paraguay defender Paulo Da Silva
This title means a lot to me because my grandfather won, my father won and now I won. Three generations who led this tournament, Forlan will be the last name in the history.
-Diego Forlan
Here are some bits from articles covering Uruguay’s victory:
So while the Argentines hang their heads and the Brazilians try to get inside theirs, the Uruguayans should hold theirs high. It’s their time, and no one in South America is in position to say otherwise.
–Andrew Das
As for the Uruguayans, they will be allowed to celebrate for a while, having earned bragging rights until World Cup qualifying kicks off next year.
Argentina and Brazil can say whatever they want, but it will fall on deaf ears because Uruguay proved itself on the field and that’s all that counts in soccer.
–Michael Lewis for FoxLatino
Uruguayan forward Diego Forlan is congratulated by Uruguay's Head coach Oscar Tabarez during the final of the 2011 Copa America football tournament held at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, on July 24, 2011.
