{"id":46705,"date":"2026-06-27T03:13:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T03:13:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/46705\/"},"modified":"2026-06-27T03:13:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T03:13:19","slug":"marcelo-bielsa-reveals-reason-behind-fernando-muslera-substitution-in-uruguay-vs-spain-at-2026-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/46705\/","title":{"rendered":"Marcelo Bielsa reveals reason behind Fernando Muslera substitution in Uruguay vs Spain at 2026 World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everyone was in shock to see Fernando Muslera subbed off vs Spain at 2026 World Cup<\/a>. It\u2019s not every day that a goalkeeper gets substituted unless it\u2019s due to injury or some weird circumstance. Now, Uruguay\u2018s head coach Marcelo Bielsa revealed the reason of this change.<\/p>\n

Bielsa<\/a> said he didn\u2019t spoke to Muslera at halftime, and that it was the goalkeeper himself the one that asked to be subbed off. \u201cI didn\u2019t make it [the decision of substituting the GK], that\u2019s a decision Muslera himself made,\u201d Bielsa revealed. However, Bielsa also explained why he subbed off Fede Valverde<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hence, this cleared the air. The goalkeeper himself didn\u2019t see fit continuing playing after a very bad half of soccer action in a must-win game vs. Spain<\/a>. Despite the change, Uruguay still couldn\u2019t right the ship and were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Muslera was directly involved in Uruguay\u2019s dismay<\/p>\n

Uruguay conceded four goals in the 2026 World Cup, Muslera<\/a> had a mistake in every single one of those actions. While the fact that Uruguay are eliminated from the tournament is not purely on Muslera, he did have a nightmare of a tournament.<\/p>\n

Fernando Muslera at the World Cup:<\/p>\n

\u25ab\ufe0f Spilled a header vs. Saudi Arabia, rebound was scored
\u25ab\ufe0f Beaten by long-range free kick opener vs. Cabo Verde
\u25ab\ufe0f Marooned off his line for the 2nd goal vs. Cabo Verde
\u25ab\ufe0f Fumbled Alex Baena’s shot vs. Spain, substituted at half time<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udee5 pic.twitter.com\/3Ck38rdIkO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 B\/R Football (@brfootball) June 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

And this is not new. Muslera also had costly howlers in previous editions of World Cups. For instance, in Uruguay\u2019s quarterfinals match vs. France in Russia 2018, a weak, long-distance shot from Antoine Griezmann was grossly mishandled by Muslera, which made France had an unreachable two-goal lead in the game. <\/p>\n

In South Africa 2010\u2019s match for third place, Bastian Schweinsteiger struck a long-range free-kick that Muslera spilled, allowing Thomas Muller to pounce and score the rebound. Muslera has been a constant presence for Uruguay, but his mistakes come in crucial moments against the Charruas\u2018 best interest.<\/p>\n

\"Bruno<\/a><\/p>\n