Araujo's calf injury revives World Cup ghosts for Uruguay

Araujo's calf worry – "all the ghosts of the last World Cup came flooding back"

Ronald Araujo has spoken out about the calf injury that threatens his World Cup opener, and the Barcelona defender didn't hide the emotional weight of it. "I have a minor calf injury, and it happened during training. I don't think it was due to the intensity of the training sessions because we have it very well controlled, but all the ghosts of the last World Cup came flooding back," Araujo said (2). He missed the 2022 tournament through injury and now faces a race to be fit for the Saudi Arabia match. Medical staff in Montevideo remain optimistic he will not miss the entire tournament, but his availability for the early group games is uncertain (2). For Bielsa, losing his most reliable centre-back at this moment is a brutal blow.

Your group: Saudi Arabia, Spain, Cape Verde

Uruguay's path through Group H is now set. You open against Saudi Arabia, then face Spain, and close the group stage against Cape Verde (1). That Saudi Arabia opener suddenly carries extra weight – with Araujo doubtful, Bielsa's defensive setup for matchday one is a question mark.

Fan reactions

The mood among Uruguay supporters online is a mix of anxiety and frustration. Many fans are pointing to the training load under Bielsa, with several questioning whether the intensity is pushing players to the limit at the worst possible time. Others are simply gutted – Araujo's injury history at major tournaments is becoming a painful pattern, and the idea of another World Cup without him at full strength is hard to swallow. See what fans are saying on r/Barca.