Muslera’s pain put in perspective

URUGUAY goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was cast as the villain of their World Cup exit after his howler against France allowed an Antoine Griezmann shot to slip through his hands.

But he was received at home like a hero due to details that have emerged since his quarter-final nightmare.

In the week leading up to the game, Muslera first had to deal with the news that his uncle had been killed in a car accident.

Then he learned that his grandmother had passed away due to illness.

A crowd were waiting at Montevideo Airport for the squad who had actually planned a low-key return.

They were greeted by cheers and footage of the crowd breaking into supportive chants for Muslera were doing the rounds yesterday.

Uruguay have a good record for rallying around their own, albeit in vastly different circumstances with Luis Suarez’s travails.

However, it shines a light on the communal and understanding atmosphere in the small country that allows them to consistently compete at the highest level.