Fernando Muslera asked to be hauled off at half-time after his latest blunder saw Uruguay knocked out of the World Cup in a 1-0 defeat to Spain. The 40-year-old goalkeeper allowed Alex Baena’s tame shot to bounce into the net, handing Spain the lead in a match Uruguay needed to draw to progress from Group J. Muslera got a hand to the ball but could not keep it out, and was seen furiously shouting in frustration afterwards.
At the break, Sergio Rochet replaced him. Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa later revealed: “The Muslera change was not my decision, it was Fernando. Fernando Muslera asked me to be subbed off at half time.”
“Fernando Muslera asked to be substituted after his error gifted Spain a 1-0 win, eliminating Uruguay from the World Cup.”
The error was the third that Muslera has made leading to a goal in this World Cup campaign, making him the first goalkeeper since records began in 1966 to contribute three errors leading to goals in a single tournament. Uruguay finished the group on two points after draws with Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia, becoming the highest-ranked team eliminated.
Former England goalkeeper Rob Green, who made his own high-profile mistake at the 2010 World Cup, said Bielsa was as accountable as Muslera: “Incredible move. You just wonder whether it was all too much. Bielsa is as much at fault as Muslera in all of this.”
The defeat was compounded by further chaos. Real Madrid star Federico Valverde was substituted after 56 minutes following a subdued performance, and Uruguay ended the match with ten men after Agustin Canobbio was sent off for hacking at Pau Cubarsi. Bielsa’s future is in major doubt after speculation over disagreements in the camp, and he admitted: “From my position as responsible for this passage through the World Cup, no one is willing to listen to any explanation.”