GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — Spain beat Uruguay 1-0 after Fernando Muslera’s goaltending error to advance to the finals. world cup And on Friday, they will eliminate a South American powerhouse.
Two-time champions Uruguay will return home without a win in their three Group H games. European champions Spain advanced through their group with seven points and will face Group J’s second-place team (Austria or Algeria) on Thursday in Inglewood, California.
Alex Baena scored in the 42nd minute. Muslera was unable to completely dispel the shot. From within the area. It was the third slip-up by the 40-year-old Muslera this tournament. He asked manager Marcelo Bielsa to replace him. At halftime. Sergio Roche started in the second half.
“He was the one who made the decision to leave,” Bielsa said.
The veteran Argentine coach felt Uruguay deserved to be lucky given their performance and said they should have taken seven points from the group game instead of two. However, he took full responsibility for the team’s failure.
“No one wants to hear explanations now,” Bielsa said. “I take responsibility. I take responsibility for the disappointing job I did. I had quality players.”
Uruguay are ranked 19th in the FIFA rankings, the highest of any team to have been eliminated.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said, “Every game is different and we have to win any type of game.” “This was the most difficult game ever.”
Coach de la Fuente said midfielder Yeremy Pino likely suffered a fractured collarbone and could miss the remainder of the tournament. Pino, who entered the match in the 66th minute, played until the end despite his injury, as Spain had already made all five substitutions.
cape verde, Drawn 0-0 with Saudi Arabia The other group match on Friday saw them second in the group with three points, one more than both Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Uruguay finished in 3rd place, but did not have enough points to advance to the top 8 of the 3rd place teams.
Several Uruguayan players cried on the field after the final whistle. Many fans booed as the team left.
The match was one of the most anticipated of the group stage, but there were few significant scoring chances for either team.
“I’m very proud of all the work we’ve done,” Baena said. “We had very good competition.”
Uruguayan players loudly claimed a penalty in the final moments of the match, when Federico Viñas went down in the area.
There was some tension near the end. Uruguay’s Agustín Canobbio was sent off in stoppage time for a tackle on Spain defender Paul Kvarsi. Teammates had to escort him off the field, but after the final whistle, he returned to speak with the referee.
Uruguay, winners of the World Cup in 1930 and 1950, entered their final group match in chaos, drawing with Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. Uruguayan media reported that there were reports that the players were not happy with Bielsa.
Spain, aiming for their second World Cup title, opened with a shock 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, but beat Saudi Arabia 4-0. La Roja has not made it past the round of 16 since winning its only title in 2010.
Spanish striker Lamine Yamal, who entered the tournament with a left hamstring injury, was lackluster and did not play again, being replaced in the 76th minute by Ferran Torres. Yamal, 18, was substituted at half-time against Saudi Arabia and came on as a second-half substitute against Cape Verde.
Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte was substituted towards the end of the first half with what appeared to be a knee injury. He was on the ground seeking medical aid when Spain took the lead, but was eventually carried off the field on a stretcher.
King Felipe VI of Spain was among the crowd of 45,065 at Estadio Akron.
A moment of silence was held before the match as a mark of remembrance. people who died When a series of earthquakes struck Venezuela late Wednesday.
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Associated Press writer Maria Verza contributed to this report.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
