MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) 鈥� Uruguay is off to a start many did not expect. After draws against and , and with a match against Spain still to come, the two-time winner is at risk of missing the knockout stage.
Among the many fans watching was someone the team looked to for goals for more than 15 years: .
The matches were played in Miami Stadium, near where 厂耻谩谤别锄 serves as striker for Inter Miami. The 39-year-old watched from above as Uruguay struggled despite being heavily favored.
厂耻谩谤别锄 as the all-time leading scorer for the national team with 69 goals in 143 appearances. He was ultimately left off coach Marcelo Bielsa鈥檚 squad after months of speculation.
After the match, Bielsa spoke about the team鈥檚 inability to capitalize on some of its advantages.
鈥淚 think that the problem or greatest issue is that we started the second half with the ball and with the victory,鈥� Bielsa said through a translator after Sunday鈥檚 game. 鈥淎nd it was at that moment that we didn鈥檛 close it. We didn鈥檛 make any danger.鈥�
Bielsa claimed his team 鈥渓acked a finishing touch鈥� in Sunday night鈥檚 draw. Something that 厂耻谩谤别锄 once delivered in his time with Uruguay.
Fans of Uruguay recognized how difficult it can be to replace a player of 厂耻谩谤别锄鈥檚 caliber.
鈥�(I have) mixed feelings to be honest,鈥� Uruguay supporter Frederico 厂耻谩谤别锄 said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 old and now it鈥檚 time for the younger players. But he鈥檚 a good player, maybe the best player I鈥檝e ever watched with Uruguay.鈥�
In April, Luis 厂耻谩谤别锄 announced he was willing to come out of retirement to play for Uruguay in the World Cup. The announcement fueled speculation that Uruguay鈥檚 star could make one final appearance on soccer鈥檚 biggest stage. Bielsa instead placed his faith in Uruguay鈥檚 next attacking generation, also excluding from his roster.
鈥淚 feel like he鈥檚 a little older, so for players like Darwin (N煤帽ez), I think it just gives him a little bit more of a chance to shine,鈥� Uruguay fan Ian Lancaster said.
In its first World Cup match without 厂耻谩谤别锄 since 2010, Uruguay narrowly avoided an upset against Saudi Arabia with the team鈥檚 only goal coming late from midfielder Maxi Ara煤jo. Nu帽ez and Federico Vi帽as led the front line but were largely ineffective.
Bielsa chose a different lineup Sunday night, starting only Vi帽as to lead the attack. Midfielder Agust铆n Canobbio was added to the starting lineup against Cape Verde and made a difference, scoring Uruguay鈥檚 second goal.
It was Canobbio鈥檚 narrow miss in the second half, however, that could have given Uruguay a much-needed victory.
厂耻谩谤别锄 and Bielsa clashed after the 2024 Copa Am茅rica when 厂耻谩谤别锄 criticized Bielsa for the negative environment he had created under his leadership. Now, Bielsa and the Uruguay team will face further pressure to secure a win with an attack that has yet to dispel concerns.
All eyes will be on Uruguay on Friday as they travel to Guadalajara Stadium for a match against Spain.
鈥淥ur expectations with Uruguay now is that we never know,鈥� Uruguay fan Alfonso Aguel said. 鈥淲e need to play every match, go match by match, and see what actually happens.鈥�
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Gracie Fisher is a student in the University of Georgia鈥檚 Carmical Sports Media Institute.
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