Uruguay vs Spain LIVE: Latest World Cup team news as Group H reaches thrilling climax – UK Times

Tonight’s Group H encounter between Uruguay and Spain will be broadcast on ITV1 with coverage beginning at 12.15am.

Kick off is at 1am and the match is being played at Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico.

In this case, it’s best to start at the end of 15 strange and slightly disorienting minutes in the Los Angeles Stadium underbelly. Clearly perplexed and irritated by the tone of some questions in his customary post-match press conference, after the USA’s last-gasp but ultimately inconsequential defeat against Turkey, head coach Mauricio Pochettino had to get something off his chest. Again.

A matter of moments after voicing his bemusement that nobody had offered his team a token gesture of recognition for finishing top of a group involving Paraguay, Australia and Turkey, the overstimulated Argentinean went into overdrive once more.

Spain could once again be missing Victor Munoz, but Lamine Yamal is again set to be included in the starting XI.

There are no further injury issues but De le Fuente may decide to make some changes with Nico Williams and Dani Olmo pushing for starts.

Uruguay will be without Ronald Araujo and Giorgian de Arrascaeta who are both sidelined by calf injuries.

Otherwise, there are no fresh fitness concerns for the South American team.

Ecuador battled, scrapped and clawed their way to this famous World Cup comeback victory over Germany. A deserved 2-1 win to advance to the knockout stage for the second-ever time and ensure redemption for maligned coach Sebastian Beccacece.

They finish third in Group E, in another blow to Scotland’s hopes of becoming one of the eight third-placed teams to advance, with their manager clambering into the stands like he had won Wimbledon in what promises to be a wild New York party.

“For me, I’ve been a big admirer of Marcelo Bielsa. I’ve followed his career. I went to watch the trainings of his teams. He is a really innovative trainer. I admire him deeply,” said the Spain boss.

“I’ve already had an opportunity to spend time with him in Madrid. We spoke about football and about other things as well. I’m an admirer of his. It’s incredible for me to have him as my opponent. It’s a huge honour and joy.”

Spain’s head coach, Luis de la Fuente spoke about tonight’s match and what he is expecting.

He said: “Because of the experience that we had against Cape Verde, we were able to succeed against Saudi Arabia, but Uruguay is a different opponent because they have long history and tradition.

“They will demand the best of us. A lot is at stake for us and for them. We will try to prevail.”

Brad Pitt was there. Leonardo DiCaprio too. So were Paris Hilton and Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell and Colin Farrell. Not to mention Scottie Pippen, Lance Bass, Gabrielle Union and Keegan-Michael Key. Although, for those of us who are not entirely sure who they are, perhaps they should go unmentioned.

Maybe a United States game in Los Angeles was always likelier to attract the rich and famous, and they turned out, and then turned up on big screens and televisions. Because part of the problem with this World Cup has been the focus on the famous. Occasionally the football gets in the way of the celeb-spotting.

They have to win. No other result will be good enough. Four points, even with a negative goal difference, should be fine if Uruguay beat Spain and they end up in third place.

A win against Saudi Arabia seals it, while a point is also likely to be good enough. Defeat, and they’re out.