By Tim Vickery BBC Sport Online

Tradition counts for a great deal in football. It can give players extra reserves of self-belief when they need it most. It can even influence referee's decisions.

But sometimes tradition can be a burden that is too heavy to carry.

Over the past 10 days I have watched Uruguay's most promising young player crushed under the burden of tradition.

Ruben Olivera is a tall, strong, elegant playmaker who has already been picked up by Italian giants Juventus.

He has packed considerable experience into his 19 years, and last year only narrowly missed out on a place in Uruguay's World Cup squad.

He was also supposed to be the captain of the side who would lead his country to success in the South American Under-20 Championships.

It is a level of football where Uruguay are still a feared force.

The tiny country continues to churn out an extraordinary number of talented young players.

Uruguay were runners-up in the World Youth Cup of 1997, and semi-finalists in 1999.

All they had to do to qualify for this year's World Youth Cup was finish in the top four in their own continent.

And since they are staging the South American Under-20 Championships, it was generally assumed that they would do so.

To themselves and their fans they are still the giants of old, the kings of the global game who staged and won the first World Cup.

Ruben Olivera in action for Juventus

The giants who did not lose a World Cup game until an extra time defeat against the great Hungarians in the 1954 semi-final.

Olivera's picture was on all the posters advertising the current tournament.

His name was greeted by the biggest roar when it was read out by the stadium announcer.

All he had to do was deliver - in a punishing sequence of five games packed into less than two weeks.

It all started well enough.

In the first game against Argentina, Olivera put Uruguay in the lead when he powered through the defence to score a glorious solo goal.

It probably did him more harm than good. Everything became a solo effort.

He was slow to let go of the ball, and the team as a whole passed badly.

In game after game Uruguay's dismal football disappointed the home fans.

For failing to live up to the expectations, Olivera was singled out for special attention.

When he was substituted against Ecuador he left the field with the boos of the Centenario stadium ringing in his ears.

Uruguay may still qualify for the World Youth Cup.

A 2-0 win over Brazil in Tuesday's last round will be good enough.

But they will have to do it without Olivera.

Uruguay won the first World Cup

The young star buckled under the strain in Saturday's game against Colombia.

Both Olivera and Uruguay were poor once more, and went 2-1 down in the 88th minute.

There was still time for Olivera to dwell on the ball once more and almost give a goal away.

By this stage he had completely lost control, and charged across the field to commit a brutal foul that brought a yellow card - and a suspension for the Brazil match.

He had to be helped off the pitch at the final whistle, a pathetic figure who had been knocked off his pedestal in a week-and-a-half.

Olivera had failed to live up to the demands of tradition.

Those of us who admire his talent must now hope that in the future he will be able to shake off the ghosts of the past.