Uruguay's campaign has reached a crossroads. After successive draws against Saudi Arabia and now Cabo Verde, Marcelo Bielsa's side head into their final Group H match against Spain knowing victory may be required to reach the knockout stage.
That is a situation La Celeste had hoped to avoid but they have struggled to find their feet at the World Cup. The first match, , saw them play poorly in the early stages but they picked up their form after the break.
The resulting draw sparked some hope but in a 2-2 draw , Bielsa’s team once again failed to convince. Much like in their opening fixture, their performance was inconsistent, with flashes of brilliance but an inability to build on them over time.
Having shared the points for the second time in the competition, Uruguay now find themselves in a situation they were determined to avoid at the start of the tournament. They need victory over Spain to guarantee progress.
“It's a bitter pill to swallow,” said midfielder Nicolas De la Cruz after the match. “We could have picked up more points in both games, but you never know, anything can happen.
“I think we’ve struggled with a bit of everything. It’s a combination of things that just piles up on you. It's obvious the type of football they play, but that's no excuse for us. You're left wondering why we didn't pick up all three points, but now it's time to get on with it and go out there to win.”
La Celeste once again put in a mixed performance against Cabo Verde. After starting down the right wing, Federico Valverde dropped back into midfield against Cabo Verde and the team responded well to his involvement.
The Real Madrid midfielder showed glimpses of quality, especially when he ventured forward at speed, disrupting the African side’s defensive structure. The island nation refused to sit back and instead put up a fight on virtually equal terms, which proved problematic for Uruguay.
The two matches in Miami saw La Celeste demonstrate only a snapshot of their true potential, with overlaps using their width on the flanks, build-up play driven by the technical prowess of their midfielders and a handful of third-man runs off the back of their forwards dropping deep.
However, it was not enough. They will essentially need a win in Monterrey to progress to the next round, although a draw might be enough, depending on the result of the other Group H match. This was not part of their original plans.
“We were looking to win today’s game to be in a more comfortable position going into the final fixture, especially as they are a tough side. We just weren’t sharp enough at both ends of the pitch, and that’s what cost us,”, said Sebastian Caceres after the match.
Spain’s thrashing of Saudi Arabia made the outlook even bleaker. Nevertheless, Uruguay would rather focus on their own issues.
“We don't care about Spain's result. Either way, we have to win, and that's what's important,” said Maxi Araujo after the match. Three points are precisely what La Celeste will need if they want to extend their stay in the tournament.
Sources: FIFA Official
