Balance the buzzword for Uruguay, coach says

With an attack spearheaded by Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, Uruguay were expected to thrill at the World Cup, yet after three straight clean sheets in the group phase, it is their rock-solid rearguard that has impressed the most in Russia.

The South Americans boast one of the tournament’s most fearsome attacking partnerships, with Barcelona’s Suarez and Paris St Germain’s Cavani operating in tandem. Both were on the scoresheet as Uruguay beat Russia 3-0 to finish the group phase with a perfect three victories, yet their pragmatic approach has seemingly placed a greater focus on nullifying opponents rather than tearing them apart.

Uruguay claimed top spot in Group A by restricting a Russia side that had scored eight goals in two games to a handful of half-chances in another shutout.

The result, achieved in stifling heat and without injured defensive leader Jose Gimenez, was Uruguay’s sixth successive clean sheet and underlined the importance coach Oscar Tabarez places on defence despite the attacking riches at his disposal.

“The holy grail of football is the word ‘balance’,” Tabarez told reporters in Samara.

“When we attack, we need to be able to attack, but this isn’t abstract — it is because ball possession has been recovered or from good defensive work. We work on balance all the time.”