Jobu introduces you to Uruguayan midfielder Jorge Fucile.

This next Uruguayan became one of my favorites during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but hasn’t really been able to play much internationally since because of injuries. I’m introducing him to you anyway, in hopes that he’ll be able to get and play in time for Brazil in 2014.

Fucile was born in Montevideo in 1984 and started his career in the Primera with the home town Liverpool Fútbol Club in 2002. He was eventually transferred on a one year loan to the Portuguese team F.C. Porto, helping them to their second consecutive league title that season and earning himself a five-year deal with the club. While not an every day player, Fucile played for two more league championship winners during his time on Porto, which is nothing to shake a stick at (or something to shake a stick at? I don’t get that saying).

Unfortunately, Fucile was put on the back burner by new head coach Vítor Pereira, and was eventually loaned out to Santos FC in Brazil for 2012. Despite not having a stellar international career, Fucile was one of the more important figures during Uruguay’s improbable World Cup run in 2010. He debuted for the national squad in 2006 and quickly became a staple, representing los Charrúas in the 2007 Copa America tournament (a 4th place finish).

Jorge was really at the top of his game in that World Cup. Making up a Uruguayan midfield that had a great cup, Jorge shined in the five games he played. He made very few mistakes and kept the ball moving well on the attack and on the defensive side of things too. In the game against Ghana he was knocked unconscious by a bad fall after jumping for a header, but returned to finish the game and came within inches of being the villain of cup, when, while defending the goal line, he swung and missed at Ghana’s last minute attempt to put a ball in the net for the win (Luis Suárez famously slapped the ball away at the line and was hated by all… but that’s another story).

As I mentioned before, Jorge isn’t currently playing for Los Charrúas because of a series of injuries, but here’s hoping he can get over them in time for Brazil in 2014. We miss you Jorge, come back to us!

Featured image courtesy of: espn.estadao.com