Powerful Uruguay knocked out of WC, Spain finishes as group champions

Spain secured the top spot in Group H with a 1-0 victory over Uruguay in their final group stage match. Meanwhile, a powerhouse Uruguay side has been forced to exit the World Cup after failing to secure a win in their opening two fixtures and suffering a defeat in their final game.

Spain dominated possession throughout the match at the Guadalajara Stadium. However, Uruguay's disciplined defense kept the Spanish attackers at bay for long periods. Marcelo Bielsa's side set up such a deep defensive block that creating clear-cut chances proved incredibly difficult for Spain.

Nevertheless, Luis de la Fuente's men patiently maintained their offensive pressure. In the 42nd minute, Alex Baena received a cross from Marcos Llorente inside the box, turned sharply, and fired a shot. Uruguay's veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera failed to control the strike cleanly, allowing the ball to roll into the back of the net.

That pre-interval goal ultimately decided the fate of the match. Although Uruguay attempted a comeback in the second half, the likes of Benjamín Rodríguez and Darwin Núñez failed to capitalize on their opportunities. Late in the game, Ferran Torres hit the crossbar for Spain.

In the 90th minute of the match, Canobbio was shown a straight red card for a harsh foul on Spain's Pau Cubarsí, reducing Uruguay to 10 men in the dying moments of the game.

The statistics clearly reflected Spain's dominance, as they controlled the match with 68% of the possession. Uruguay managed just 2 shots on target while committing 14 fouls, picking up 3 yellow cards and 1 red card.

This marks a disappointing exit for the two-time world champions, Uruguay, whose World Cup campaign ends in the group stage with just 2 points from three matches.

On the other hand, Spain advances to the Round of 32 as group champions with 7 points. In the knockout stage, they will face the runners-up from Argentina's group. Meanwhile, Cape Verde scripted history by finishing second with 3 points, remaining unbeaten throughout the group stage to secure their place in the Round of 32.