Uruguay left “frustrated” this Monday (15) after only achieving a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia in their debut at the 2026 World Cup, in Group H, despite playing a second half worthy of victory, said Uruguayan captain and Real Madrid player, Federico Valverde.
I’m leaving “frustrated, angry”, summed up the midfielder, a feeling shared by the other players of the South American team, who were surprised in the 41st minute with Abdulelah Al Amri’s goal.
The second half was “much better, we improved the mentality, the intensity; the debut played against us a little, the nervousness, the anxiety”, said Valverde, and added that in the end the team showed “what the coach asked”.
Maximiliano Araújo equalized for Marcelo Bielsa’s men 35 minutes into the second half, when all of Uruguay was pressing forward in attack to overcome a Saudi defense that had its goalkeeper, Mohamed Al Owaiss, as its main figure.
“All debuts are a little difficult, personally the first half was quite difficult (…) we deserved a little more, but that’s how it is”, summed up Araújo.
Sporting’s point also highlighted that the improvement in the second stage “has to be useful for the next game” against Cape Verde on June 21st.
Uruguay will end its Group H campaign on June 26 in Guadalajara against Spain, which opened with a goalless draw against Cape Verde.
