Spain wins World Cup group, beating Uruguay 1-0 as Muslera’s error sends two-time champions house.
Printed On 27 Jun 2026
Uruguay bowed out of the World Cup as goalkeeper Fernando Muslera’s howler gifted Spain a 1-0 win in Guadalajara to safe prime spot in Group H.
Alex Baena’s weak shot slipped by way of Muslera’s grasp for the one purpose as Spain averted a final 32 showdown towards Argentina.
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The European champions will as an alternative face Austria or Algeria subsequent in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Uruguay’s defeat allowed debutants Cape Verde to safe second place and a gathering with Lionel Messi and the defending champions, due to a 0-0 draw towards Saudi Arabia.
Two-time winners Uruguay develop into the highest-ranked facet to crash out within the group phases because the defeat rounded off a depressing match for Marcelo Bielsa and his squad.
After attracts towards Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, reviews of a revolt within the Uruguay camp emerged, with main gamers, together with Actual Madrid’s Federico Valverde, clashing with Bielsa over his ways.
Spain’s King Felipe was amongst these in attendance, however the one conflict between two former winners of the World Cup within the group phases was an enormous disappointment.
Lamine Yamal within the beginning lineup had sparked the Spanish assault into life in a 4-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia after La Roja started in underwhelming trend with a goalless draw towards Cape Verde.
However one other laboured attacking efficiency leaves Luis de la Fuente with lots to ponder earlier than the knockout phases start on Sunday.
A hero of Uruguay’s run to the semifinals in 2010, Muslera was at fault for each Cape Verde’s targets in a 2-2 draw.
And in Guadalajara, Spain had barely threatened the Uruguay purpose earlier than the 40-year-old allowed Baena’s shot to dribble over the road from Marcos Llorente’s cross on 42 minutes.
To rub salt into Uruguayan wounds, Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte was injured within the buildup to the purpose and stretchered off with what gave the impression to be a critical knee harm.
Bielsa changed Muslera at half-time with Sergio Rochet, and the Uruguay boss made an excellent bolder name when Valverde was taken off on the hour mark.
De la Fuente additionally turned to his bench, and the introduction of Dani Olmo and Fabian Ruiz lastly injected some life into the Spanish efficiency.
Olmo ought to have carried out higher when he spooned a shot over from a uncommon flash of Yamal’s brilliance to tee up his Barcelona teammate.
Yamal was changed quarter-hour from time as his minutes proceed to be managed after a hamstring harm ended his membership season prematurely.
His alternative, Ferran Torres, ought to have doubled the lead 5 minutes from time however hit the bar with simply the goalkeeper to beat.
Uruguay’s depressing match was summed up when Agustin Canobbio was proven a straight crimson card in stoppage time for a wild lunge on Pau Cubarsi.
Hyped as one of many pre-tournament favourites, Spain at the moment are 34 aggressive video games unbeaten and are but to concede a purpose on the World Cup.
However in stark distinction to among the scintillating attacking play on present from the likes of France, Argentina and the Netherlands, La Roja are but to persuade of their quest for a second World Cup triumph.
