Uruguay were late to join the party in Qatar, producing their only notable performance in the final group game.
In the aftermath of the miserable loss against Portugal, Diego Alonso shed his oversized hipster white sneakers and three-man defense. Instead, he opted for a pair of old-fashioned brown leather dress shoes and a 4-4-2 flat.
Quality from midfield
Rodrigo Bentancur and Federico Valverde dominated the performances in midfield during the first half hour against Ghana. This was the first time Alonso had unleashed them as a central midfield pairing in Qatar.
Starting from left midfield and running inside, Giorgian de Arrascaeta had a fairytale first half, scoring two quick goals (by the way, the only goals scored by an attackingly talented Uruguay).
remembering 2010
Luis Suárez was the same as always, brilliant and unpleasant in equal parts. Valverde raised his fists to the referee after Andre Ayew saw his tame penalty saved by Sergio Rochet. Andrew Ayew was there, at the FNB Stadium, when Ghana was left out of the 2010 World Cup at the hands (literally) of Uruguay.
The stars were aligning. This was Uruguay at its glorious and notorious prime.
When Bentancur was forced to withdraw with an ankle injury, his mind was surely on the final 16 rounds his team seemed destined for. He was heartbroken.
Uruguay remained firmly in control for the remainder of the game. Darwin Núñez and Edison Cavani were denied penalties, despite VAR reviews. That said, CBS rules expert Christina Unkel agreed with officials in Qatar. She argues that while there is contact, it is not enough to warrant a foul in this scenario.
Then the unexpected happened.
VAR breaks the heart of Uruguay
South Korea snatched victory from Portugal in the dying moments. This put both Uruguay and South Korea within four points, both on the same goal difference. Uruguay’s offensive problems came to haunt them, as South Korea scored two more goals.
fine margins.
One more goal from Uruguay or one more goal against South Korea was the difference between anguish and delirium. However, the VAR and the controversial calls tell the story of Uruguay’s departure.
Not conceding the controversial late penalty signaled by the VAR against Portugal would have been enough for Uruguay to reach the round of 16. That, added to the lack of a penalty in favor of the South American team against Ghana, was too much for some players.
Edinson Cavani, mistreated by one of the calls, let his frustration be known on the VAR screen after the game.
Frustratingly, all the penalty VAR reviews seem to have gone against him. Disagreeing with a referee making a decision in real time is one thing, disagreeing with a referee and the VAR support team after they have had enough time to analyze the incidents is another.
Fine, fine margins.
PHOTO: IMAGO/Xinhua
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