Uruguay vs. Spain: Marcelo Bielsa's team dare not lose in order to stand a chance of World Cup progression

Ahead of Uruguay's 2026 World Cup clash with Spain, Sports Mole's Football Editor Matt Law discusses the South American nation's chances of success.

Matt Law, Football Editor: 'Two points is precise improbable to beryllium enough'

You don't privation to beryllium taking connected Spain needing a result, and 2 points is precise improbable to beryllium enough.

There are truthful galore antithetic permutations with conscionable 1 circular of games left, and immoderate of them are incredible. 

The deficiency of invention from Uruguay hits the nail connected the head. They haven't won a crippled since October, and that was against Uzbekistan. 

Their past 2 wins person been against Uzbekistan and Dominican Republic, and earlier that they had to spell each the mode backmost to past September. 

It's been draws recently, though pre-tournament they were rather bully erstwhile they drew 1-1 with England. 

The deficiency of a top-drawer guardant is the existent issue: erstwhile you deliberation astir Suarez, Cavani, Forlan, these were players who ever came up with large moments. 

Federico Vinas has been the 1 they've turned to truthful far. 

I watched him successful Spain connected indebtedness astatine Real Oviedo past season, wherever helium scored 9 goals for a broadside that were by acold the worst squad successful the league. 

But if you're relying connected a subordinate similar that, helium played done the mediate past clip retired by himself and truly recovered it difficult. 

He was 1 of the lowest-rated players, and erstwhile you ticker the crippled you tin usually archer if idiosyncratic is doing well, and helium was truly struggling. 

Darwin Nunez is there, but determination is speech astir his aboriginal astatine nine level, and he's not precisely the astir prolific subordinate for his country: 13 goals successful 40 games. 

A batch of radical thought Uruguay would get done the radical stages rather comfortably, and radical would person been rather shocked if you'd said they were going to spell retired successful the radical stage. 

The spot of their squad: Valverde is simply a world-class midfielder, but Ugarte has had a existent conflict astatine Manchester United. 

Spain volition spell beardown successful this game, and that's not what Uruguay volition want. If they lose, Uruguay are successful existent occupation successful presumption of getting done to the adjacent round.