Spain takes advantage of a gift against Uruguay and secures a smoother path to the World Cup

BarcelonaThe Spanish team has lived up to expectations and has qualified for the round of 32 of the Football World Cup as group leaders. A lucky goal from Atlético player Álex Baena just before halftime was enough to defeat Uruguay in a very dull match between the two teams (0-1). By finishing in first place, the team avoids playing for a ticket to the round of 16 against Lionel Messi's Argentina. If they do their homework against weak Jordan, the reigning world champion will play the first knockout round against the Cape Verde team, which advances in its World Cup debut after drawing three matches out of three, the last one this morning against Saudi Arabia (0-0).

Spain has encountered a rival marked by disagreement. Marcelo Bielsa and the heavyweights of the celeste team have maintained deep disagreements in recent days about how to express themselves on the pitch. The veteran Argentine coach opts for attractive football, which clashes with the traditional Uruguayan approach, more comfortable in reaction. With their backs against the wall to secure a ticket for the World Cup playoffs, and considering that la roja (the red team) accumulates a lot of possession, Bielsa's proposal has taken a conservative turn – with man-marking – which has led to a rather dull spectacle. Pedri found few solutions between the lines, Lamine Yamal ran into Sanabria's determined marking, and the new addition to De la Fuente's starting eleven, Mikel Merino, also did not have his day. For his part, Cucurella focused on the defensive phase, where he worked hard to minimize the ambushes of a very agitated Canobbio.

All the ingredients pointed to the first half ending goalless, but the Uruguayan goalkeeper, who a few days ago against Cape Verde already had a negative impact on his team (2-2), decided to liven up the evening with another blunder. In an isolated play initiated by a useful press from Marcos Llorente, the ball reached Baena, who struck a seemingly harmless shot into the penalty area. Fernando Muslera stretched to his right to try and stop it, but he misjudged the movement so badly that the ball ended up in his own net. A sad end to the career of the most important goalkeeper in Uruguayan football. Having just turned 40, this World Cup erases the trajectory of the last survivor of the golden generation of Suárez, Forlán, Godín, Cavani, and company. Bielsa substituted him at halftime at the player's own request. It was his second substitution, as just after the goal, Ugarte had to leave the field on a stretcher due to a serious injury.

In the second half, despite having the score advantage, Spain continued to be short on ideas. The South American team had even fewer, needing at least a draw to have any chance of advancing in the championship. Without playmakers talented enough to threaten Unai Simón's goal, Bielsa's men maintained their competitiveness solely through rough play. They took advantage of referee Elfath's leniency, allowing kicks in every challenge. Cannobio and Betancur risked expulsion with two tackles, but continued on the pitch as if nothing had happened until, in stoppage time, driven by frustration, the former was shown a straight red card for a deplorable tackle on Pau Cubarsí.

In contrast, Fede Valverde, the celeste captain, was substituted with more than half an hour remaining. The merengue player reached the bench with a sour face, cursing the decision of Bielsa, who, sitting by his portable cooler, didn't even flinch. A terrible World Cup for a man who ended the season at Madrid fined for arguing heatedly with Tchouaméni. And an unmitigated failure for Uruguay against a Spain that reaches the knockout stages still far from their best form. In a few days, De la Fuente's team will face Austria or Algeria.