Uruguay coach blames Portugal penalty for World Cup exit

AL WAKRAH, Qatar – After being eradicated from the World Cup regardless of a 2-0 win in opposition to Ghana on Friday, Uruguay coach Diego Alonso blamed his nation’s failure to get out of the group stage on an officiating error within the workforce’s earlier sport in opposition to Portugal.

“We’re out due to Portugal’s penalty and purpose distinction,” mentioned Alonso, by a FIFA translator. “It is not the purpose [from a 0-0 draw against South Korea], fairly on the contrary. We aren’t out due to that time. It is due to the penalty that was awarded in additional time that, in line with FIFA, was not a penalty.”

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The penalty in query got here on a play within the 89th minute when Portugal have been main 1-0. Uruguayan defender Jose Maria Gimenez made a sliding problem within the penalty field and the ball grazed his hand whereas he was extending it to brace himself as he fell backwards.

Referee Alireza Faghani of Iran initially didn’t name for a penalty, however was suggested to seek the advice of a VAR evaluation, which led to the choice. Bruno Fernandes transformed the penalty to make the rating 2-0.

Alonso has a respectable gripe within the wake of the Worldwide Soccer Affiliation Board’s (IFAB) clarification of the handball rule in 2021, when it mentioned it would not be a handball when “arm place is for assist when falling or when getting up from the bottom.”

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Nonetheless, that did not change the truth that Uruguay started Matchday 3 degree on factors with South Korea, whereas trailing by a single purpose on the purpose distinction tiebreaker and with two fewer objectives scored. For groups degree on factors, purpose distinction is the primary tiebreaker and objectives scored the second.

When South Korea scored in additional time in opposition to Portugal to go up 2-1, it meant Uruguay wanted one other purpose to advance on purpose distinction. That purpose by no means got here.

“We had many possibilities to do it, however ultimately, it wasn’t potential,” Alonso mentioned. “And, in fact, the emotional facet was vital, however nonetheless we tried to battle to qualify. We had 4, 5 possibilities within the final minutes, however then sadly it wasn’t potential.”

Making his first begin of the match, Giorgian de Arrascaeta scored each objectives within the first half for Uruguay after goalkeeper Sergio Rochet saved a penalty from Ghana captain Andre Ayew. Each groups began the day with an opportunity to advance and have been eradicated with the consequence.