Group H winners set up knockout clash after nervy night in Guadalajara
Spain are through to the World Cup knockout stages as group winners after a 1-0 win over Uruguay in Guadalajara on Friday evening. It was the kind of game that tests your patience — and your nerve.
Luis de la Fuente's side dominated possession for long spells but found Uruguay's defensive shape stubborn and well-organised. For all their control, clear chances were scarce.
The breakthrough came just before half-time, and it owed plenty to a moment of misfortune for Uruguay's veteran goalkeeper. Alex Baena let fly from near the edge of the area, and Fernando Muslera — usually so reliable — failed to hold the shot, the ball trickling over the line.
It was a rare error from the 40-year-old, and it proved decisive. Uruguay replaced him at the interval with Bielsa — presumably not the Leeds one — and grew into the game after the break. Nicolás de la Cruz forced Unai Simón into a sharp save, while Ferran Torres somehow blazed over when clean through. Some things never change.
Late drama arrived when Agustín Canobbio saw red as tempers frayed. Baena, reflecting afterwards on his first World Cup goal, described it as among the most joyful moments of his career. Hard to argue.
The result eliminated Uruguay, who finished the group with just two points. Elsewhere, Cape Verde's 0-0 draw earned the debutants a historic place in the knockout rounds — a story that rather overshadowed Spain's functional but unspectacular progress.
Rodri, as ever, was the metronome. He completed 100 of 106 passes (94%), made six passes into the final third and contributed six defensive actions. Not a night for flashy numbers — zero touches in the opposition box, no successful dribbles — but the control was there when Spain needed it.