GUADALAJARA: Uruguay bowed out of the World Cup after losing against Group ‘H’ winners Spain on Friday as Cape Verde wrote another chapter in their fairytale debut campaign, battling into the knockout rounds for the first time.

Uruguay veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera’s howler gifted Spain a 1-0 win in Guadalajara to secure top spot in Group ‘H’.

A hero of Uruguay’s run to the semi-finals in 2010, Muslera was also at fault for both Cape Verde’s goals in a 2-2 draw.

Alex Baena’s weak shot slipped through Muslera’s grasp for the only goal as Spain avoided a last-32 showdown against Argentina.

The European champions will instead face Austria or Algeria next in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Uruguay’s defeat allowed debutants Cape Verde to secure second place and a meeting with Lionel Messi and the defending champions thanks to a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia.

Two-time winners Uruguay become the highest ranked side to crash out in the group stages as the defeat rounded off a miserable tournament for Marcelo Bielsa and his squad.

After draws against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, reports of a revolt in the Uruguay camp emerged with leading players, including Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde, clashing with Bielsa over his tactics.

Bielsa controversially substituted Valverde on the hour mark and said the decision to replace Muslera at half-time had been taken by the player himself.

“Muslera decided to come off at half-time, and I replaced Valverde with Federico Vinas because I wanted to add a more physical presence to the attack.

Bielsa said Uruguay deserved more from all three of their games, but accepted the critics that will come his way.

“Journalists and fans of Uruguayan football legitimately want to pin the blame on me. I’m the person responsible and I have to accept it,” said Bielsa.

Spain’s win though came at a cost in a bruising encounter, with Yeremy Pino facing a potentially tournament-ending shoulder injury and Nico Williams suffering a muscle problem.

In the other Group ‘H’ fixture, the tiny Atlantic archipelago played out a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia to clinch second place and advance to the knockouts where they will face defending champions at the Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on July 3.

“To us, nothing is impossible,” Cape Verde coach Bubista told a press conference, his country’s flag draped around him.

Cape Verde’s third consecutive draw saw them finish the group with three points, behind Spain.

“I feel like I’m in a dream,” said man-of-the-match Deroy Duarte. “Ever since I was a kid, Ive always dreamed of playing in a World Cup.

“From tomorrow, well focus on the next match. Its against Argentina, isn’t it? A tough match, but lets believe anything is possible.”

Saudi coach Georgios Donis said an inability to hold possession and threaten Cape Verde in the final third was his teams undoing.

“We had problems in creating things,” he said. “When you are playing in such a match and unable to control the pace and tempo of the game and in the attack you cannot create chances it is difficult to win a match.”

Saudi Arabia exited the tournament meekly having scored a single goal in their three games and never looked like adding to their tally in Houston in a display that lacked ambition for the most part.—Agencies

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2026