With a talented generation of players blending skill with aggression, the Uruguay national team achieved an impressive fourth place finish at the 1970 World Cup. Goalkeeper Ladislao Mazurkiewicz and defender Atilio Ancheta were both elected in FIFA's team of the tournament, and their talents were complemented by a group of fine players like Luis Ubiña, Luis Cubilla, Pedro Rocha, Roberto Matosas, and Julio Montero Castillo - all footballers in the peak years of their careers.

Mexico 1970 set an impossibly high benchmark that Uruguay would struggle to match during the rest of what was a disappointing decade. La celeste qualified for the next World Cup in West Germany, but this time a squad that was past its best could only use violence to counter stronger opponents. An underwhelming group stage exit resulted, although this was at least better than missing altogether, as was the case with the 1978 tournament in neighboring Argentina.