Spain secured their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup by defeating Uruguay 1-0, with Alex Baena scoring the decisive goal. This victory allowed Spain to finish at the top of Group H, while Uruguay's exit came after Cape Verde's goalless draw with Saudi Arabia, leaving the tournament debutants in second place.

Match Overview

In a tightly contested match, Spain took the lead just before half-time thanks to a mistake from Uruguay's goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. Marcos Llorente's cross found Baena, whose shot slipped through Muslera's hands and into the net. This goal proved crucial as it marked the only score of the match. Uruguay, who played with ten men after Agustin Canobbio received a red card in stoppage time, struggled to find their rhythm throughout the game.

Key Moments

Spain had an early opportunity when a loose pass from Rodrigo Bentancur set up a chance for Mikel Oyarzabal, but his cross was intercepted. Despite some promising moments from Uruguay, including a backheel attempt from Darwin Nunez, they could not capitalize. Spain's defense, led by a solid performance from their backline, limited Uruguay's chances, allowing them to maintain their narrow lead.

With this victory, Spain now looks ahead to their knockout stage match against the runner-up of Group J on July 2, with Austria currently in that position before their final match against Algeria. Meanwhile, Uruguay's World Cup journey ends at the group stage, marking a disappointing exit for Marcelo Bielsa's side.