The Copa America champions were by far the best team on the continent in 2011.
Uruguay were named South American team of the Year for 2011 by prestigious French magazine 'France Football.' The two-time world champions won the award, ahead of Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Paraguay.

The Uruguayans went on to improve on their World Cup performance, when they finished in fourth-place, by lifting the Copa America for a record fifteenth time. Uruguay remained undefeated throughout the competition and beat Mexico, Argentina and Peru before thrashing Paraguay 3-0 in the final at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.

Uruguay also lead the South American World Cup qualifiers with two wins and a draw from their first three matches. Their success has been brought down to team work and the overall quality of their squad.

"The Uruguayans dominated the Copa America, while Argentina and Brazil were mediocre, but they have also started the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in style," affirmed France Football.

The magazine also explained that La Celeste impressed in high-profile friendly matches against European sides, as they beat Italy, Ireland and the Netherlands. Due to this they were able to escape "from possible decline after their fourth-place finish in the World Cup of South Africa, and the image of their aging star Diego Forlan."

It emphasized that Uruguay's outstanding results under Oscar Washington Tabarez have been due to their offensive strength where Liverpool striker Luis Suarez reigns supreme. But the magazine also paid homage to "the legendary fighting spirit and the defensive solidness" of Paris Saint Germain defender Diego Lugano.

France Football concluded by stating: "Uruguay already dream about a wonderful campaign in Brazil, where they obtained their last World Cup title in 1950," when they upset the hosts with a 2-1 win in front of more than 200,000 fans at Maracana stadium.

The magazine also named Mexico as the best team in the Concacaf region, Germany the best team in Europe, Japan in Asia, Ghana in Africa and New Caledonia in Oceania.