Spain win the group but Williams and Pino go down
A win, two injuries, and a furious Nico Williams
Spain 1–0 Uruguay on Thursday, and you won Group H (1). Top spot means avoiding reigning champions Argentina in the round of sixteen. But two attackers went down, and one of them is not holding back.
Nico Williams came off after a tackle from Uruguay's Nicolas de la Cruz. The Spanish winger did not mince words afterwards: "completely unnecessary" (3) (7). Williams has an adductor injury (4).
Yéremy Pino also left the match. Medical tests on Saturday showed he avoided a fracture, it is an acromioclavicular sprain, and the Spanish camp have not ruled either player out of the World Cup (4). Availability depends on how quickly they recover.
Uruguay cancel the charter home
Uruguay's federation did not take the Spain loss lightly. The team charter has been cancelled, and every player will fly back on a regular commercial flight instead (9).
What matters now
You go into the knockout stage as group winners. Unai Simon kept a third straight World Cup clean sheet, the first time Spain have managed that since the 2010 champions did it in South Africa. The defensive solidity is real. The question is whether Williams and Pino heal in time for the round of sixteen.
Sources
- 1. n-tv.de — Uruguays Treterei: Spanier erlebt "einen der schlimmsten Tage meines Lebens"
- 3. bbc.co.uk — Spain's Williams criticises tackle that injured him
- 4. theguardian.com — Spain reveal Pino avoided fracture and retain World Cup hope for him and Williams
- 7. vi.nl — Geblesseerde Williams woest op Uruguayaan na lompe tackle: 'Was volkomen onnodig'
- 9. marca.com — El duro castigo de Uruguay: ¡cancela el chárter y cada jugador volverá en un vuelo regular!