World Cup 2018: Uruguay 0-2 France – Hits and flops from the game

One has to go back as far as 1924, to understand the rivalry between these two footballing nations. It was the South Americans who drew first blood, beating them 5-1 in the quarterfinals before dazzling their way to the Olympic gold. Since then, these sides have rarely played against each other.

Their last encounter at a World Cup tournament was the 2010 World Cup, where the match ended goallessly. If one goes back a bit further, it was in 2002 when these sides clashed and again the result was a goalless draw. So coming into this game, one could have been pretty skeptical about how the game may have played out.

La Celeste coming into this game had only conceded a single goal, a Pepe header in the last 16 knockout stages and started off on a solid platform, as they looked to shut down the French attacking threat. While bad news had come in the form of Cavani injury, one still expected them to challenge.

If one were to compare teams, then Uruguay was a team of street smarts and probably would have had a better chance had they had Cavani available. Instead, it was France who started with a full strength team and a certain element of ominous bearing, not for them but their opponents.

With both teams looking to achieve their objective of reaching the semi-final, it was no wonder that it was a game which saw aggression and tenacity go hand in hand. Players from both sides looked to stamp their mark on the game. As the game progressed players went into challenges some legit, some not legit and a testament to that was the foul count which had a total tally 30 fouls – 15 per side.

But that was the closest Uruguay came to France. A couple of soft goals meant France comfortably took the lead and were able to dictate the pace of the play as they meandered their way to a semi-final where they will now either meet Brazil or Belgium.

---

#5 Hit: Hugo Lloris

Lloris makes a world-class save

Having secured the lead via a Raphael Varane glancing header, the French were looking to go into half-time and build on their lead. Having seen their counterparts take the lead, meant that Uruguay had to attack more and they were immediately on the front foot as they raced down the other end to win a free-kick.

Hugo Lloris, the French captain, and the keeper took his time and yelled out his instructions before taking his place in goal. What followed after that was nothing short of a supermanesque effort by the Spurs keeper.

As the ball was floated inside the France box, it was Martin Caceres who rose highest as he headed a thumping header which was destined for the bottom corner. Somehow, Lloris palmed away the ball and the follow up was blasted over by Diego Godin, as France held on to their lead.

His effort to keep out the ball was the turning point of the game, as an equalizer for Uruguay at that point of time would probably have put the pressure back on France. The Golden Glove is still a couple of games away but given the chance, Lloris would probably forsake personal glory for team glory. And if that does happen, then the save on the stroke of half-time will probably go down as the save of the tournament.

#4 Flop: Fernando Muslera

Muslera had a game to forget

The injury to Edinson Cavani couldn’t have come at a more importunate moment for La Celeste. Having scored two decisive goals to take his team to this stage, Cavani was always going to be missed. And it was his absence, which seemed to make French the favourites to progress. And for major parts of the game, Uruguay looked to make in-roads.

And as the second half progressed, one could sense an Uruguayan goal in the offing. But then tragedy struck in the form of a Muslera howler as a routine shot from Griezmann was palmed into the goal. In a moment the tie was over for Uruguay as Muslera could only curse in disappointment.

Muslera has been one of the mainstays for the Uruguayan national team for a considerable period of time and it was a sad way to see him and his team go out of the tournament. Having tried to parry the shot instead of catching it, he could only watch in horror as the ball slipped out of his hand and land beyond the goal line and thus extinguishing Uruguay’s hopes at this edition’s World Cup.

#3 Hit: Raphael Varane

Varane gave France the lead

France came to this tournament having lost one of their key defenders – Laurent Koscielny to injury. In his place, two young defenders have made this position their own. Samuel Umtiti and Raphael Varane have had outstanding seasons with their clubs, with both of them picking up silverware with their respective clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid.

And it is their defensive understanding that has caught the attention of the onlookers in this World Cup. Varane who rose to prominence early on his career had a terrific game at both ends of the pitch as he kept the usually dangerous Suarez, quiet while curtailing the influence of Stuani.

Varane, having made a late run into the box was on hand to flick the ball over the Uruguay defence as the ball made its way past the outstretched arms of Muslera as it skimmed of the post to end in the back of the net. This was Varane’s third goal for France, with the previous two also having been headers as well.

#2 Flop: Luis Suarez

Suarez failed to flourish without Cavani pairing up beside him

This tournament has been somewhat of an aberration for the Barcelona striker. Despite scoring twice in group stages, Luis Suarez failed to inspire his team in this tie. The added responsibility in yesteryears seemed to inspire El Pistolero, but in this edition, he has been a shadow of his former self.

As usual, he scuttled around, chased every ball on the pitch, fought with the defenders but all of his antics seemed to fall excruciatingly short of the objective which was to score a goal. The fluency and the chemistry that he enjoys with Cavani was missed and Stuani alongside Suarez was never going to trouble the French defence.

Despite the fact that almost eight outfield players had a shot on target for Uruguay, it was the absence of Suarez from that list, which will be the talking point. One wonders whether it was the last of the buck-toothed striker we will see in a competition of this stature. If it does turn out to be his final game in La Celeste colours, then it will be one of the quietest exits of one of the world’s most lethal strikers.

#1 Hit: Paul Pogba

An all-action Paul Pogba for Les Bleus is integral to French hopes

Ever since his record move from Juventus to Manchester United, Paul Pogba has struggled to live up to the billing. There have instances where he has looked world class but it is the lack of consistency that has been frustrating for his club manager, Jose Mourinho and French national team coach, Didier Deschamps.

Against Uruguay, the Frenchman took it upon himself to power the French attacking forays. The second goal was an evidence of that fact as he outmuscled Vecino and powered up the field before finding Griezmann. His fighting spirit was evident as well as he was right in the middle of the melee in the 67th minute as things started to heat up.

It augurs well for the French team that Pogba is picking up form. But in the same breath, one shouldn’t forget the contribution of Kante, who has allowed Pogba the freedom to maraud forward. Their partnership has been a work in progress since the Euros 2016 and it was pleasing to see all the pieces fall into place for this tie.

Whether the duo has it in them to take the French team all the way, is a question that one will look to find the answer in the forthcoming week. But for now, Pogba has silenced all the naysayers.

---

Who do you think was the best player in the Uruguay-France game? Tell us in the comments below!