Bielsa: Uruguay must beat Spain to stay in World Cup

Uruguay's national team coach Marcelo Bielsa has taken full responsibility for the team's disappointing performance in the 2026 World Cup, where they have secured only two points out of a possible six. Ahead of their crucial final group match against Spain, Bielsa emphasized the "necessity and obligation to win," acknowledging that only a victory will keep Uruguay's tournament hopes alive.

"We have to play against Spain with the necessity and obligation to win. It is a very big challenge for all of us," the Argentine coach stated after the 2-2 draw against Cape Verde, a result that leaves Uruguay on the brink of elimination. He cautioned against approaching the match with mere aspiration, a warning directed at both his squad and the public.

Bielsa did not shy away from self-criticism, placing himself at the center of the team's struggles. "I am responsible for Uruguay not having achieved more than 2 out of 6 possible points," he admitted. He also highlighted the upcoming match against Spain as an opportunity for collective redemption. "For the team in general, it represents an alternative to improve our image against a great rival," he added.

When asked about necessary corrections for the Spain match, Bielsa identified key weaknesses that have plagued Uruguay in both previous games: the inability to maintain a lead and critical defensive errors. "These two situations do not require magic recipes; they are situations that happen in football, but not frequently, and evidently, we are paying a very high price," he lamented. He noted that scoring goals is difficult, and conceding two such goals allowed a less experienced team than Uruguay to remain competitive.

Bielsa dissected the match against Cape Verde to illustrate precisely what cannot be repeated. "The decisive moment was the first 15 minutes of the second half: we had the ball and the lead, but we did not create danger and conceded a goal," he explained. This inability to manage an advantage after halftime is the pending assignment Uruguay must resolve against a stronger opponent. "We have drawn two matches that were winnable; I believe there is no doubt that we deserved to win the match against Saudi Arabia, and even with the goals we conceded today, we should have won," he stressed.

Regarding available resources, Bielsa confirmed that Ronald Araújo will miss the Spain match, and the participation of Nicolás De la Cruz, a key player, remains uncertain. "Araújo has no chance of playing against Spain. De la Cruz has made tremendous efforts to reach the World Cup with very few minutes, and I cannot say if he can play 45 minutes, less than 45, or a full match," the coach explained. Despite the adverse circumstances, Bielsa acknowledged that Uruguay believes it can compete against Spain.