The action resumes as the match between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay continues, and it’s hard not to notice the enforced three-minute hydration breaks during this World Cup.
In a lackluster opening quarter, one observer remarked, “My goodness, that Miami song, if it can be called such, is awful!”
Commenting on the music played, Duncan McQueen expressed his distaste, stating,
“With Fede Valverde playing for Uruguay, there’ll be something worth watching in this one,”
He suggested a more suitable tune instead.
Uruguay sought a penalty when a shot from Caceres, after a free-kick, made contact with Tambakti’s arm, but the referee saw nothing wrong as Tambakti’s arm was positioned close to his body.
Al-Dawsari made a notable attempt, intercepting a pass from goalkeeper Muslera before exchanging touches with Al-Juwayr and shooting from 25 yards, though the attempt went wide.
Aside from Araujo’s shot, the match has largely been a stalemate. Observers noted, however, that Uruguay’s home kit might be among their best since the 1990 World Cup.
Saudi Arabia enjoyed significant possession in the preceding minutes, albeit mainly within their defensive half. Justin Kavanagh commented on the presence of Fede Valverde for Uruguay, saying,
“He’ll probably either score an outrageous first-half hat-trick or kick Bielsa’s bucket from under him as he gets subbed early. Hopefully, Uruguay will progress to a knockout meeting with France, where Real Madrid ‘teammates’ Valverde and Tchouaméni can really express how they feel about each other.”
He humorously speculated about Valverde’s potential impact on the game.
Uruguay’s strategy involves selective pressing, mindful of the oppressive heat conditions. Kári Tulinius mused about a hypothetical match between these teams at the 1986 World Cup, reflecting on their historical significance as continental champions.
As the match progresses, Araujo’s corner kick was headed down at the far post but collected comfortably by Al-Owais. The Saudi Arabia attack is spearheaded by Salem al-Dawsari, known for scoring the decisive goal in their remarkable victory over Argentina four years ago.
As kickoff approached, excitement built in Miami, with fans eager for a chaotic encounter. Andrew Goudie expressed his anticipation, saying,
“Counterfactual history is the last refuge of the nerd,”
He also praised Duncan Ferguson’s insightful commentary.
- Spain 0-0 Cape Verde
- Belgium 1-1 Egypt
- Saudi Arabia v Uruguay (now)
- Iran v New Zealand (after this)
Where to begin? A glance back reveals that in late April, Hervé Renard was dismissed as head coach of Saudi Arabia, with Georgios Donis taking over shortly after.
Renard had been at the helm since 2019, leading the team to a historic victory over Argentina at the Qatar World Cup. However, his return in October 2024 was marked by underwhelming results.
Reflecting on his tenure, Renard stated,
“but I can’t help but wonder what a meeting between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay at the 1986 World Cup would’ve been like, when both were continental champions, which they would defend. It’s Saudi Arabia’s golden age of football, and though it’s not Uruguay’s, they had a serious team. “The Green Falcons did well in the Afro-Asiatic Cup against Cameroon in 1985, so they’d probably have given the South Americans a proper game. Anyway, they didn’t meet until early this century, so we’ll never know. Anyway, yes, football nerdery is a lonely pursuit.”
He acknowledged his unique role in guiding the team through both qualifiers and the World Cup.
Marcelo Bielsa has left a significant imprint on the Uruguay squad, employing a 4-3-3 formation that emphasizes high pressing and relentless pursuit of the ball. Under his leadership, Uruguay has experienced a tumultuous journey, including a fourth-place finish in the Conmebol standings and a third-place finish in the 2024 Copa América.
Uruguay’s performance has been a mixed bag, punctuated by an impressive run in late 2023 followed by a concerning stretch with just one victory in twelve matches. Questions arose after a heavy defeat to the US, yet faith was reinstated following draws against England and Algeria.
Saudi Arabia’s lineup is set up in a 4-4-2 formation with Al-Owais; Abdulhamid, Al-Amri, Altambakti, Al-Harbi; Abu Al-Shamat, Al-Juwayr, Al-Khaibari, Kanno; Al-Buraikan, Al-Dawsari.
Uruguay counters with a 4-2-3-1 setup featuring Muslera; Varela, Cáceres, Olivera, Viña; Ugarte, Bentancur; M Araújo, Valverde, Viñas; Núñez.
Referee Maurizio Mariani from Italy officiates the match.
Welcome to minute-by-minute coverage of the clash between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay at the Miami Stadium. Saudi Arabia aims to replicate their stunning victory over Argentina from the last World Cup, hoping to enhance their chances of advancing from the group stage.
Uruguay, having missed the 1994 tournament, aims to continue their legacy following a memorable semi-final appearance in 2010. They are known for making a mark at every World Cup, including their last outing when they faced Ghana in a dramatic knockout.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 PM EDT, 11 PM BST, and 8 AM AEST.
Uruguay’s buildup to this World Cup match was marred by travel complications as their flight from Mexico faced multiple delays.
Initially scheduled to depart from Cancún to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday afternoon, their flight was canceled due to paperwork issues, leading to a lengthy delay before a second flight was arranged.
Despite the turmoil, Bielsa downplayed the impact of the delay, stating,
“I’m hoping for a chaotic game,”
“difficult,”
Captain José María Giménez, however, described the situation asacknowledging the frustrations while noting they managed to rest at the hotel during the wait.
For further details, the full report is available below.
