Uruguay's current status as South America's best team after Brazil has been achieved purely on the strength of hard work and results. At the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2005, the Celeste had to make do with a place in the quarter-finals, before confirming their progress the following year by finishing runners-up to the undisputed kings of the sport, Brazil.

That second place brought to six the number of times the Charrúas have enjoyed podium finishes at the competition - that is if you include the unofficial editions of the event which began in 1995. Their exact honours list consists of runners-up spots in 1996 and 1997, losing on both occasions to Brazil, and third-place finishes in 1998, 1999 and 2002.

Current coach Venancio Ramos secured his side's qualification for this the third official edition of the tournament with victory over Venezuela at the South American Qualifying Tournament in Acapulco, Mexico. Now, after last year's merited runners-up spot in Rio, Uruguay are hoping to take it one step further and finally claim top spot on the sands of Copacabana.

Qualification
Uruguay secured their place in Rio de Janeiro with victory over Venezuela at the South American Qualifying Tournament this August in Acapulco, Mexico. Venancio Ramos's side showed all their defensive skills and tactical discipline to overcome Venezuela 4-0 and Argentina 4-3. With qualification taken care of, the world runners-up then narrowly failed to win the continental title, going down 4-3 to the USA in the decider.

Among the many positives for the Celeste at the qualifying tournament were the performances of Diego Montserrat and Ricardo Martinez, who picked up the awards for best goalkeeper and top scorer respectively.

Coach
Venancio Ramos has a long and successful history in Uruguayan football, having won the Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup with Penarol in 1982 and been a regular for the national team in the 70s and 80s. With that kind of background, Ramos found a warm welcome when he turned his attention to beach soccer in 1995.

The 48-year-old took part in all the unofficial Beach Soccer World Cups between 1995 and 2002, enjoying his best tournament in 1997 when, along with Junior, he shared the top scorer award with 11 goals. In March 2006, the Uruguayan FA appointed him national coach, and Ramos immediately repaid their faith in him by guiding Uruguay to the Final of that year's FIFA World Cup in Rio.

Star player
In a team of outstanding defenders, the undisputed leader is Sarandi Sobral, or Pampero, as he is better known. With his impressive physique, enviable skills and powerful long-range shooting, the 29-year-old is the complete beach soccer player, as he amply demonstrated at Rio de Janeiro 2006.

What they said:
"Since finishing runners-up last year, we've worked very hard to raise the level of our game. We've increased the frequency of our training and intensified our work on sand, and I think we're now seeing a difference. Hopefully we can fine-tune things further in Brazil." Venancio Ramos, Uruguay coach.