Araújo doubt for Uruguay's World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia

Uruguay face Saudi Arabia on Sunday in a World Cup group stage clash clouded by Ronald Araújo's fitness race. The Barcelona centre-back has travelled to Spain for treatment on a muscular injury and is a major doubt for the opener, leaving Marcelo Bielsa's defensive plans unsettled. Federico Valverde, Manuel Ugarte, and Darwin Núñez are all expected to feature, while veteran Jose Giménez may be called upon to anchor the back line if Araújo misses out. Bielsa's demanding system leaves little room for passengers, and any absence of his most reliable defender against a Saudi side led by Salem Al-Dawsari would be a real test early in the campaign.