Uruguay eliminated as Bielsa takes the blame and Gallardo waits

Uruguay out, Spain win the group 1–0

It's over. Uruguay 0–1 Spain on Saturday, and your World Cup ends at the group stage. Alex Baena scored the only goal (6). Uruguay finish third in Group H behind Spain and Cape Verde. The same Cape Verde who held you to a 2–2 draw earlier in the group. That result, more than this one, is what killed you.

The rough play that left Spain battered

Uruguay did not go quietly, but not in a way anyone will celebrate. Nico Williams and Yéremy Pino both came off injured after heavy challenges (2) (14). Williams called Nicolas de la Cruz's tackle "completely unnecessary" (5). Pino avoided a fracture, but both are now doubts for Spain's knockout run (10).

Bielsa takes the blame from all sides

Former captain Diego Lugano pointed straight at Marcelo Bielsa, calling the atmosphere around the squad "poisoned" (9). Dutch pundit Robert Maaskant went further: "He's just a madman, it's only ever about himself" (13). An Italian editorial called the campaign Bielsa's latest failure from a coach who has never won (16).

Gallardo already in the frame to replace him

The Uruguay federation are already looking ahead. Marcelo Gallardo is one of the names being lined up to succeed Bielsa after the group-stage exit (3).

No charter flight home after the embarrassment

The Uruguayan FA cancelled the team's charter flight back from the tournament. Players now have to book their own commercial flights home (4) (8) (12).

Muslera's World Cup under fire

Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera is taking heavy criticism for his performances across the tournament, with Turkish media saying he "burned both himself and Uruguay" (7).

Fan-reaktioner

The mood is bleak. One Reddit post making the rounds notes that Uruguay hasn't won a single match without Luis Suarez since 1990, a stat that cuts deep right now. Another thread catalogues every goal conceded in the group stage, frame by painful frame. Watch the goals Uruguay conceded.