Matías González
The Río Branco Cup unfolded in three matches, with Matías González playing all of them, repeating in the first two the defense duo with Vilches, later replaced by Eusebio Tejera,  who would be González 's partner in the world cup. González's presence in the team was favored by the intervention of Obdulio Varela, as González had been boycotted by colleagues for not having joined the 1948 strike. González was a hero in a complicated game against Spain, already in the final quadrangular. The South Americans started winning, but suffered the comeback and needed a risky long-distance shot by Obdulio Varela to equalize in the last twenty minutes. The defender saved at the top of the line what could have been the Spanish victory in the last bid and he was named hero of the match. At Maracanazo, González was the most defensive Uruguayan player,  not coming out much beyond the half moon. He was in charge of personally marking top scorer Ademir, sticking to him with support from Rodríguez Andrade on the left, Gambetta on the right and Tejera in the center. González also annulled Friaça in the first half, in which the Uruguayan tactics worked to prevent the tables between Ademir, Zizinho and Jair, key moves for the routs imposed by the Brazilians in the matches prior to the decision. González was the absolute starting Uruguayan defender also in the Copa América in 1953, with William Martínez being his most frequent partner. Uruguay finished third;  González ended up not being called up for the 1954 FIFA World Cup, he was called up for the 1955 Copa América, but played in just one game, precisely in the 6-1 defeat suffered by champion Argentina. The Uruguayans were fourth. González last played for the national team on October 10, 1956, date of the 2-1 defeat by Argentina in Paysandú. He had been left out of that year's Copa América, held in January in Uruguay and won by the country.