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Another poor performance from Marcelo Bielsa sent Uruguay crashing out of the World Cup with a 1-0 loss to Spain.
Alex Bena’s goal late in the first half decided the game for Guadalajara as veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera could only push the ball into his own net. Bielsa replaced Muslera at half-time as Uruguay’s woeful campaign came to an end.
The Group H contest ended in infamy as Real Madrid midfielder and Uruguay captain Fede Valverde clung on before the bell and Augustin Canobio was sent off in stoppage time for a wild and desperate lunge at Pau Qubarsi.
Spain were far from fluent but Unai Simon was nothing to deal with and they still top the group but the story of the night was Cape Verde advanced alongside them. Uruguay’s two points are not enough to send them through As the third placed team.
La Rosa set up a tie in the round of 32 with Group J’s runners-up, currently Austria. They will play in Los Angeles on Thursday July 2 with an 8pm kick-off.
Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa had a tournament to forget
Key Moments in Guadalajara…
42: Goal! Biena’s snap-shot was netted by Muslera
46: Sub! Bilsa picked up goalkeeper Muslera at half time
57: Sub! Bielsa took Uruguay captain Valverde as a substitute
86: Crossbar! Torres crossed but hit the top of the bar
90+5: Red card! Canobio breaks into Cubersea and is sent away
What does the result mean?
Analysis: Bielsa’s nightmare World Cup
Bielsa is a cult hero to supporters of Athletic Club and Leeds United but his reign in charge of Uruguay is surely coming to an end and he will not be mourned by their supporters after the campaign was fraught with difficulties before it began.
In retrospect, Bilsa destroyed himself by deciding to bring Muslera out of retirement. The 40-year-old goalkeeper has arguably been responsible for all four of Uruguay’s goals this World Cup. They could if he kept any of them out.
A tournament that began amid question marks over his management was highlighted by Luis Suarez sending off Bielsa Valverde and seeing Cannobio – another man he fell out with – completely lose his composure. It was a mess.
Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera is beaten by a shot from Spain’s Alex Bena.
Bilsa: I gave nothing to Uruguayan football
Head coach of Uruguay Marcelo Bielsa:
“The match was quite even. We deserved a draw. We should have drawn. The performance was not the problem.
“I couldn’t maximize the potential of the Uruguayan players. With the replacement of Valverde, I wanted a stronger presence in attack.
“What I gave to Uruguayan football is nothing because the contribution a coach can make to a national team is meaningless if you don’t have positive results. If you ask me how they will remember me, they will remember me as someone who left nothing.”
Need to reset in Uruguay Spain didn’t click
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville ITV is:
In Uruguay: “It will be a reset moment. They have this great generation of players who have just retired in the last 10 years and they’ve got this new generation who are not at the same level.
“You’ve got a manager who’s got experience and a great reputation all over the world but he’s decided to take everything with him on the way out. He probably won’t survive it.
“Valverde has been taken off, a goalkeeper with 137 caps has been taken off, so there will be a massive fall but in these moments it can sometimes be a moment of reset and reflection.”
In Spain: “It doesn’t seem like it’s clicked yet but we’re not even halfway through the tournament yet. You have to play five more matches to win it. Spain are masters at understanding a tournament and pacing it.
“You don’t have to peak too early so I wouldn’t write them off yet but they feel like they have the power. There’s something missing at the moment.”
