Uruguay skipper Diego Lugano hails unity for Copa America win

26 July,2011 09:46 AM IST |   |  PA Sport

La Celeste skipper Diego Lugano hails unity within team after thrashing Paraguay 3-0 in sunday's Copa America final


La Celeste skipper Diego Lugano hails unity within team after thrashing Paraguay 3-0 in sunday's Copa America final


Captain Diego Lugano felt Uruguay's togetherness was key to their Copa America triumph.

La Celeste cruised to a 3-0 defeat of Paraguay in the final in Buenos Aires on Sunday night with Diego Forlan scoring twice after Luis Suarez had put them ahead after 12 minutes. The strike pairing of Liverpool's Suarez and Atletico Madrid's Forlan stole the headlines for their goalscoring exploits but defender Lugano claims the "unity" in the team was the overriding reason behind their success.


Uruguayan players celebrate after beating Paraguay in the Copa America
final in Buenos Aires on Sunday. PIC/AFP


He said: "We have worked so hard and dreamed that this will happen to make people happy and Uruguay showed that they are the beat team in South America," he said.

"The key is the unity within the group. We all pull the same way."

The Fenerbahce centre-half added: "This is the result of many years of hard work.

"We are proud to have won something this big. Not now, but over the years we will realise what we have done. From a little boy, everyone breathes football in our country. And from when you first kick a ball you dream of moments like thisu00a0-- winning the Copa Americau00a0-- so we want to enjoy it.

"Uruguay are the champions because we were strong and are hungry for glory."u00a0
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Diego Lugano Paraguay Uruguay Copa America