Uruguay was eliminated from the World Cup following a 1-0 defeat to Spain on Friday night. This loss allowed Cape Verde to advance to the knockout stage in their World Cup debut.
The decisive goal for Spain came from a significant error by veteran Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who failed to properly handle a 42nd-minute shot from Alex Baena, allowing it to slip into the net during what should have been an easy save.
Uruguay’s coach, Marcelo Bielsa, seemed to share this sentiment. Muslera had endured a challenging tournament, and Bielsa opted to replace him with Sergio Rochet at halftime.
Throughout the match, Uruguay displayed a few moments of promise but lacked a reliable offensive threat, resulting in a game that was not particularly enjoyable to watch. Not even Federico Valverde was immune to Bielsa’s early substitutions, as the Real Madrid star was also substituted in the 58th minute.
As Uruguay struggled, Cape Verde only needed to secure a draw against Saudi Arabia to qualify for the knockout rounds, and they achieved just that with a 0-0 draw.
Spain, who entered the match with four points, topped the group with seven, while Cape Verde finished second with three. Uruguay ended up third with two points, and Saudi Arabia was last with one.
Group H Standings and Results
|
W |
D |
L |
GD |
GF |
Pts |
||
|
1 |
Spain |
2 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
|
2 |
Uruguay |
0 |
2 |
1 |
-1 |
3 |
2 |
|
3 |
Cape Verde |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
|
4 |
Saudi Arabia |
0 |
2 |
1 |
-4 |
1 |
2 |
Match Results:
Monday, June 15: Spain 0, Cape Verde 0
Monday, June 15: Saudi Arabia 1, Uruguay 1
Sunday, June 21: Spain 4, Saudi Arabia 0
Sunday, June 21: Uruguay 2, Cape Verde 2
Friday, June 26: Cape Verde 0, Saudi Arabia 0
Friday, June 26: Spain 1, Uruguay 0
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Next Matches for Spain and Cape Verde
Cape Verde vs. Argentina
6 p.m. ET, July 3, Miami
Cape Verde’s unexpected journey in the World Cup commenced with a 0-0 draw against Spain and will now continue as they face Lionel Messi and Argentina. Finishing second in their group means Cape Verde heads to Miami on July 3 to take on the defending champions. If they manage to win, it would mark one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, paving the way for Cape Verde to compete in the Round of 16 in Atlanta on July 7.
Spain vs. TBD
3 p.m. ET, July 2, Los Angeles, California
Spain will discover its knockout round opponent on Saturday night, depending on the outcome of a match involving either Austria or Algeria. The team finishing second in Group J will face the Euro 2024 champions. In the event of a tie between Austria and Algeria, where both finish with four points, Austria will be matched against Spain, while Algeria faces a more favorable matchup against Switzerland.
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Is there a chance for the third-place team to advance?
No. If Uruguay had managed to tie Spain and Cape Verde tied Saudi Arabia, it might have opened the door for Cape Verde to progress with three points and a neutral goal differential. With nine third-place teams already on three points and only eight advancing to the knockout stages, Uruguay has a lot to reflect on.
Is it possible for this group to yield a World Cup champion?
Definitely. Spain is currently the second favorite to win the World Cup, trailing only France, and as demonstrated two years ago, Spain can defeat any opponent. While their group stage performance may not have been aesthetically pleasing, the aim in the World Cup is simply to survive and proceed to the next stage. Fans are already looking forward to a potential semifinal matchup between Spain and France on the same side of the bracket.
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Cape Verde’s World Cup adventure may face a formidable challenge against one of the greatest players in soccer history, but the fact that they have made it this far to face Argentina is remarkable.