Luis Suárez, Cavani, Martín Cáceres, Muslera and Godín will leave the Uruguayan team with a bitter taste
Uruguay was eliminated from the World Cup and the press attacks arbitration and FIFA… but also the game shown
Uruguay goes home at the first exchange. They did not have an excessively complicated group to go to the round of 16. In fact, only Portugal could overshadow him. But on paper, and it has been shown again in this World Cup, games are not won.
You have to go out into the green, compete face to face and be better than your rival. Propose more. Do more. And the truth is that Uruguay has been far from being the team that was presumed by players and history. South Korea, with many more limitations in terms of individual quality, has ended up taking the precious spoils of the round of 16 of the World Cup, and has left the Uruguayan team with a shocked face. Suárez’s tears were Uruguay’s tears.
A victory against Ghana on the last day that was useless for absolutely nothing. Because Uruguay had been playing with fire for too many minutes in this World Cup. Until it burned. In the cruelest way. In the last moments, winning and knowing that only one more goal would put you in the round of 16.
Suárez and Giménez, very tough with FIFA
That is why the players, led by Suárez and Giménez, attacked the arbitration establishment and FIFA, considering that they had been seriously harmed by the referees’ decision (the penalty in favor of Portugal was controversial and the one that was not Darwin was whistled against Ghana, too) and that’s why they were out.
But the truth is that Uruguay had arrived too late for this World Cup. He woke up in his last game, he went on the attack from minute 1, but he no longer depended 100% on himself to pass, so football offered him a cross that now he has to digest.
In the Uruguayan press there has been much talk about how the selection has been harmed by the referees, but he has also highlighted a fierce criticism of both the players and the coach Diego Alonso. Uruguay could not be eliminated no matter how much the referees had not helped.
No ambition at the start
Controversies aside, Uruguay has not exactly offered its best football in Qatar. Not even similar to what it had been in the previous qualifiers. Against South Korea, a minor team, He decided not to be the protagonist and give the ball to the rival. The result was a draw that hurt.
Then, against Portugal, more of the same. Diego Alonso strengthened the defensive axis with a defense of three and in the end he had to resort to 4-4-2 with two wingers and two wingers to try to scratch a point that did not arrive. Very little offensive production. And against Ghana he did take a step forward, but he was already very conditioned.
Thus, what they ask themselves in Uruguay is why the coach did not want to be more of a protagonist in the first games. He is criticized for his lack of intervention, the little significance of his changes and, above all, his little ambition to go for the matches.
Criticized the coach, the press has not forgotten the players either. Some like Fede Valverde, who had been doing a season, have disappeared in combat. Little about Darwin and Bentancur as well, two others who had to take a step forward to lead the new Uruguay.
Farewell to the old guard
In the end, none have been at their best level. Neither did the old guard. If this premature elimination of the Uruguayan team will mean anything, it is that, almost certainly, we will no longer see Luis Suárez, Cavani, Muslera, Godín and company put on the light blue elastic. That is why the former Barça striker cried inconsolably. A truly bitter farewell. They touch changes and regeneration urgently.
Yesterday against Ghana the end of a golden generation that has brought much joy to Uruguayan football was signed with an inconsequential victory. This World Cup should serve for this old guard to firmly give the definitive witness to those who come from behind, but the truth is that expectations have come to nothing. Now it’s time to revive. Without the veterans.