‘It was a blessing to play with Suarez and Cavani for Uruguay. They helped raise the level of a generation that made history at the 2010 World Cup’ Diego Forlan recalls his role in La Celeste’s legendary attacking trident

For Uruguay - a nation of just 3.5 million people - to have one world-class attacking player is an achievement.

But to have three - all plying their trade and tearing up defences at the same time - is something else entirely.

But that was the situation that the South American side found themselves in at the 2010 World Cup, they were able to field a front line of Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.

Forlan on being part of Uruguay’s 2010 attacking trident

And rather than being a trio of big names that could not click together on the pitch, this attacking triumvirate had real chemistry, propelling La Celeste to the semi-finals.

More than a decade and a half on, former Manchester United forward Forlan has recalled what it was like to play in such a devastating front line - and what the secret to their success was.

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“Cavani sacrificed the most because he played out wide” he tells FourFourTwo. “Suarez and I occupied the centre.

“Both of them were starting to break through in Europe and it was a blessing to have them in the national team, because they helped raise the level of a generation that made history.”

The trio plundered nine goals between them during the tournament, with five of these being scored by Forlan, who finished as the joint-top goalscorer in South Africa that summer.

After topping a group that featured the hosts, Mexico and France, Uruguay saw off South Korea and Ghana in the knockout phase, before falling to the Netherlands in the semi-final.

It remains a time that Forlan relishes looking back at.

“Almost unbeatable,” he says of that run. “We failed to qualify for 2006 in Germany, then suddenly in 2010 we were just one step from the final.

“We’d suffered in previous editions, missing out despite good generations of players. We wanted to bring back the excitement for the fans.

“We’re a small country, but we showed the world how big we can be at the same time.”