DERBY DAYS: URUGUAY v BRAZILOne of the biggest upsets in the history of football would become known in South America as the Maracanazo, writes DAMIAN CULLEN.

SEBASTIAN ABREU – a player who boasts a 100 per cent strike-rate against Brazil (two games, two goals) – was asked recently what he would do with a time-machine. Uruguay’s hot-shot striker didn’t hesitate – listing the 1950 World Cup decider against Brazil. It was not an unexpected answer. In Uruguay, you do not need to be over 60 years of age to know the significance of what happened in Rio de Janeiro on July 16th, 1950.

While football clashes between the giants of South America, Brazil and Argentina, have always monopolised the limelight, in Uruguay, a nation of just 3.5 million, there’s nothing like meeting the Seleção – Brazil being the only country with which Uruguay shares a land border.

And it’s not a one-way street. Brazilians insist their teams beat Uruguay in a rather futile attempt to erase the memories of 1950, when more than 200,000 home fans literally squeezed into the Estádio do Maracanã for the final game of the fourth World Cup finals, with the home nation red-hot favourites to claim the Jules Rimet Cup.

Led by one of the greatest strikers of all time, Ademir, Brazil were expected to steamroll the Charrúas. Brazil’s final two games en route to the deciding tie were a 6-1 demolition of Spain and a 7-1 annihilation of Sweden.

Uruguay had also clashed with both European countries in the tournament – coming from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw with Spain and needing two late goals for a 3-2 win over Spain.

And as the clocks in Rio de Janeiro signalled 4pm, Friaça fired home what was expected to be the first of many home scores.

Uruguay, though, slowly worked their way into the match – refusing to play a defensive game after a reported pre-match row in the dressingroom between the manager (who wanted to play conservatively) and the players (who believed they could expose the home side’s defensive frailties).

The players won the day, in the dressingroom and on the field, with Juan Alberto Schiaffino scoring the equaliser midway through the second half and Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia scoring the winner 13 minutes later.

Ironically, the goals that would win the 1950 World Cup title for Uruguay would also ultimately lead to Schiaffino and Ghiggia leaving their country of birth. Both used their new international status to leave for European clubs, Schiaffino going to AC Milan and Ghiggia to AS Roma – and both would also line out for Italy in future international competitions.

One of the biggest upsets in the history of football would become known in South America as the Maracanazo, and, though it is hard to believe, match reports claimed the 200,000 spectators filed out of the stadium in eerie silence. The gold medals congratulating Brazil had to be deposed of (there was nothing to present to the Uruguayan team).

Brazil decided radical surgery was needed. Because of the humiliation, many of that squad never wore a Brazil jersey again, and those who did found it was no longer white. Brazil opted for yellow instead.

It was a Ray Houghton, 1988, England, type of achievement for the underdogs. And the legend has only grown with age. Across the border, the embarrassment has also been handed down, along with demands for revenge.

Brazil have won five World Cup finals since the indignity of losing that game. Uruguay returned to relative anonymity. But those who wear the Celeste shirt always manage to irritate their enormous and more successful neighbour.

In fact, Brazil have a better record against top-level teams such as Italy, Spain, England and Germany than they do against Uruguay. This weekend will be their 72nd meeting – with 32 wins for Brazil, 20 for Uruguay and the rest ending in stalemate.

Brazilian manager Dunga has left Ronaldinho and Ronaldo out of his squad for the visit to Montevideo; but this is Brazil, so the names of the players who will wear the famous yellow on Saturday still trip off the tongue – including Julio Cesar, Daniel Alves, Felipe Melo, Julio Baptista, Kaka and Luis Fabiano.

The squad includes Manchester City duo Elano and Robinho, Manchester United’s Anderson, Chelsea’s Alex and Tottenham goalkeeper Gomez, who will deputise for Cesa in the absence of Doni.

Uruguay will be missing their captain and Diego Lugano, who has marshalled their defence effectively, but have a potent strike threat that includes Abreu and Diego Forlán.

In the last round, two months ago, Brazil had a relatively easy 3-0 home victory over Peru, with Luís Fabiano scoring twice before the break and Felipe Melo making sure of victory midway through the second period. Earlier the same day, Uruguay recorded a scoreless draw in Santiago against Chile, a team also looking confidently to the 2010 World Cup finals.

With the South American qualifying campaign two-thirds over, Uruguay have placed themselves in a strong position to qualify for South Africa.

It is almost two years since Uruguay travelled to São Paulo for the fourth round of the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, with Abreu scoring in the ninth minute to open the possibility of another sensational result. Luís Fabiano, however, scored twice as Brazil yet again struggled past their rivals.

A top-four place is the big prize in the Conmebol zone, though fifth is also valuable, as that team will then play the fourth-placed team from the Concacaf qualification zone – currently Mexico – in a play-off, with the winner also earning a ticket for the World Cup finals.

Uruguayans are used to supporting national teams short of world-class players. But passion and determination are never in short supply.

Immediately after Abreu scored an equaliser against Brazil in the 2007 Copa America semi-final, he started crying – ensuring his place in the hearts of his countrymen.

If Uruguay win on Saturday, generations of Uruguayans in the future will answer any question concerning time-machines with the date – June 6th, 2009.