Video: Uruguay's football victories at the 1924 and 1928 Olympic Games While European countries bickered about what constituted an amateur player - an argument that resulted in Britain and Denmark - a highly organised Uruguay team arrived in the French capital to become the first South American national side to compete in a major international championship. From their preparation to the way they played, the Uruguayans challenged Europe's long-established approach to the game. Bernard Joy, a former England international player and now a commentator on the game, wrote: "A doctor and a physical expert were as important elements of the staff as the coach himself." Prepared to a perfect physical pitch, the players were then closeted in a villa in the village of Argenteuil lest they succumb to the attractions of Paris. But the real revelation for European observers was that, as far as the South Americans were concerned, opening up defences through skilful passing was paramount, counting for far more than physical intimidation. One of their players in particular, Jose Leandro Andrade, captivated crowds with his technique, earning himself the nickname La Marveille Noire. A midfield player he has been awarded the unofficial accolade of being the first international football star. The proof of the effectiveness of the Uruguayan way was in the results: five matches, five victories, 20 goals for, two against. In the final, in front of a 60,000 crowd - with 10,000 locked out of the Colombes stadium - they comfortably rolled over Switzerland 3-0. Eighteen-year-old striker Pedro "Artillero" Petrone, who scored Uruguay's opening goal and was the competition's top scorer, is still the youngest football gold-medallist in Olympic history. After Uruguay successfully defended their title in Amsterdam in 1928, beating Argentina 2-1 in a replayed final to remain undefeated, they were chosen as hosts of the inaugural World Cup in 1930. This would be open to professionals as well as amateurs. With a side based on their Olympic team, Uruguay won again without losing a match and inflicting another final defeat, this time 4-2, on their arch rivals Argentina.