Marcelo Bielsa stared stonily downwards rather than straight into the lens, looking like he would rather be at the training ground than posing for Fifa's official World Cup portrait. The Uruguay coach, known as 'El Loco' for his obsessive attention to detail and maverick tendencies, kept up his reputation in the standard photoshoot that all teams and managers are taking part in at this tournament.
Unlike most players and coaches who play up to the camera and enjoy their moment in the spotlight, the 70-year-old former Leeds manager refused to engage. After his side's opening 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia in Miami on Monday, he was unimpressed when journalists queried his stance, amid suggestions it might be some kind of protest.
“Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa defends stony-faced World Cup portrait, refuses to explain his stance.”
"I don't have to give any explanation, the picture was taken the way it was taken," Bielsa said. When asked a different question, he returned to the same subject. "There is a limit in terms of what we need to explain," he added. "If I'm wearing glasses, why am I wearing glasses? You look somebody in the eye, why do you do that? There is nothing wrong about wearing glasses or looking into somebody's eyes or looking down."
Fifa have photographed all the teams and their staff at this World Cup, with the photoshoots becoming a staple of coverage of their biggest tournaments in the last decade. But Bielsa, one of the most respected coaches in the game who is managing his third nation at a World Cup after previously achieving the feat with Argentina and Chile, made clear he is not a model.
Uruguay's second pool game is against tournament surprise package Cape Verde on Sunday (23:00 BST).