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Valverde's dissatisfaction was clearly visible on his face when he was substituted. |
On the morning of June 27th, during the 0-1 defeat against Spain in the final match of Group H at the 2026 World Cup, Federico Valverde became the center of attention when he reacted with disappointment to coach Marcelo Bielsa's substitution decision.
In the 57th minute, with Uruguay trailing and needing an equalizer to keep their hopes of progressing alive, Bielsa surprisingly substituted captain Valverde, bringing on striker Federico Vinas. The Real Madrid midfielder handed the captain's armband to Rodrigo Bentancur, shook hands with his teammate, and went straight to the substitutes' area without looking at or speaking to Bielsa.
The cameras then captured Valverde using his shirt to cover his mouth while saying something to his teammates. He repeatedly stood up, visibly upset, before being calmed down by other players and moved to a seat away from Bielsa. Although no direct argument occurred, this footage further fueled speculation about a strained relationship between the two.
Earlier, on June 26, Uruguayan media revealed that Valverde was among the players who demanded that Bielsa change his coaching methods and tactical approach. In response, the Argentinian strategist held a 48-minute meeting to defend his position, further escalating tensions within the team.
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Valverde walked straight to the substitutes' bench without greeting or even glancing at coach Bielsa. |
After the match, legend Diego Forlan also expressed his bewilderment at Bielsa's decision. "I'm really puzzled by that decision. When chasing the score against a strong opponent like Spain, the last player I thought would be substituted was Federico Valverde. He's the one driving the team forward, appearing at every crucial moment and looking like the only player capable of making a difference," Forlan commented.
The former Uruguayan star emphasized that coaches always deserve respect for their difficult decisions, but he argued that substituting Valverde weakened Uruguay instead of strengthening them.
Uruguay were then unable to find the net against Spain and suffered a 0-1 defeat in their final match, thus being eliminated from the 2026 World Cup. This was a shock for the South American representatives, as before the tournament, they and Spain were considered far superior to their two group opponents, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia.
Source: https://znews.vn/valverde-noi-gian-khi-bi-thay-ra-giua-tran-thua-tay-ban-nha-post1663597.html
