Spain don show Uruguay the way out of the World Cup with a 1-0 win for Guadalajara, finish top of Group H and leave Uruguay fans with heartbreak. The European champions, wey never lose for 33 games, just too strong for Uruguay wey need win to progress but no fit find the net.
But the story no be just about the match. Inside Uruguay camp, wahala dey plenty. Coach Marcelo Bielsa, wey be legend for many, don face serious palava with players. Luis Suárez wey don leave national team tok say players ask for meeting to beg Bielsa to at least say “good morning” when he see dem. The atmosphere cold and dysfunctional, players no dey happy.
Bielsa self don admit say he be “toxic” person. After a 5-1 loss to USA for November, he tok say: “Those wey get relationship with me come out of am worse. There are toxic people wey only see errors, wey demand, wey correct, wey never satisfy with anything.” He say the behaviour based on fear. The team no don win since that time.
Uruguay don play two games here and no win. They draw 2-2 with Cape Verde and 0-0 with Saudi Arabia. Bielsa say many people get “no positive expectations at all”. The team wey once produce Suárez, Forlán and Cavani now dey struggle. Since 1990, Uruguay no don win World Cup game without Suárez.
On the other side, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente get plenty respect for Bielsa. When De la Fuente lost him job for 2011, he spend five, six months watching Bielsa training sessions for Athletic Bilbao. “I’m a big admirer of Marcelo Bielsa,” he tok. “He made Athletic play wonderfully. I learned so much from him.” Now, he fit end Bielsa international career.
Uruguay midfielder Agustín Canobbio talk say: “We no feel inferior to anyone. But we get to compete for every ball with Uruguay mentality. We no fit just stand and watch. This group get pride, hunger and belief. When you wear Uruguay shirt, there no excuses.” But against Spain, e no enough.
Spain go advance to knockout round as group winner. Cape Verde also go through after 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia, finish second. For Uruguay, e be end of road for now. The internal crisis wey Bielsa dey face go continue, and the debate about expectation versus reality go rage.
Bielsa legacy dey huge, but right now, Uruguay dey for a fractious moment. The team wey once be giant of South America don fall. The question now be: wetin next for Bielsa and Uruguay?
