In a thrilling match that ended in a 2-1 victory for Argentina, the South American giants emerged as the winners of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Uruguay, on the other hand, failed to advance from their group. The turning point in the match came in the 87th minute when Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez scored a goal for Uruguay against Argentina, ending Argentina’s impressive 14-match winning streak dating back to the tournament.
Argentina had not experienced a loss since their defeat by Saudi Arabia in their first match at the Qatar tournament last year. The intensity and physicality of Uruguay’s midfield proved challenging for Argentina as they struggled to play their game. Nevertheless, Lionel Messi, who was instrumental in leading his team to victory, acknowledged that it was a good test for them and helped them improve their performance. He highlighted that he had not scored for his country during a match since their World Cup group-stage win over Poland.
Uruguay appointed former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa as their head coach in May, and Messi recognized Bielsa’s influence on Uruguay’s playing style. He also praised the talent of players under Bielsa’s leadership despite Uruguay’s loss to Argentina. As it stands now, Argentina is leading the standings with 12 points from five matches while Uruguay is sitting in second place with ten points each.