Spain didn't need to be at their fluent best to finish the group stage with a perfect goal difference. Álex Baena's 42nd-minute strike did the damage, but it had help: Fernando Muslera got both hands to the shot and could only knock it into his own net. It was the last meaningful act of Muslera's night — Uruguay's veteran goalkeeper asked to come off at halftime, replaced by Sergio Rochet for the second 45.
Marcelo Bielsa made his frustration visible early in the second half, substituting Federico Valverde — who didn't hide his displeasure at the decision as he walked off. Uruguay never generated the response the moment demanded, and it got worse late on: Agustín Canobbio was sent off with a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Pau Cubarsí, capping a miserable night for La Celeste in front of their own bench.
Spain finish the group stage with five goals scored, none conceded, and a perfect goal-difference record to show for it — group winners by a distance. Uruguay's World Cup ends in Group H, the goalkeeper change and the red card summarizing an afternoon that got away from them in every direction.
Five goals for, zero against, across three matches — as complete a defensive group-stage record as any side will produce in this tournament.
The early substitution and Valverde's reaction to it said as much about Uruguay's night as the scoreline did.
A studs-up challenge in a game already gone — a frustrated finish to a group stage that produced just two points.
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +5 | 7 |
| 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -4 | 2 |
Spain win Group H by five points and finish with a perfect defensive record. Their round of 32 opponent — the runner-up of Group J — is still to be confirmed. Uruguay finish third and are eliminated.