Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has hinted that he will play his strongest side available against Uruguay in their final group game, despite knowing that a point will be enough to qualify them as group winners. Their opponents know they must all but certainly win in order to make it through themselves.

La Roja come off a confidence boosting win over Saudi Arabia, with three goals in the opening quarter of the match. De la Fuente restored Pedro Porro, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo and Alex Baena to the line-up in favour of Marcos Llorente, Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres and Gavi. Less changes are expected this time round.

“The performance the other day doesn’t call for changes, but I am very happy with how the players who stepped in performed and with what I see in training. Whoever takes the field will do a good job. We’ll go over a few final details this afternoon, but I already know who is going to play,” he told Marca.

Baena and Valverde battle

If no changes are made, it will see Fede Valverde and Baena face each other on the same flank. The pair have an ongoing feud, with Valverde having punched Baena after a game two years ago.

“Baena and Fede are great professionals, but on the pitch, everyone defends their own,” responded de la Fuente on the prospect of the two facing off.

“Tomorrow will be a very demanding match for everyone. As for the physicality, football is what it is – it’s football. Everyone will stand their ground. It will be a high-intensity match.”

De la Fuente on Marcelo Bielsa

Not all is well within the Uruguay camp either, with Valverde one of the players who has reportedly confronted Bielsa on his approach. De la Fuente only had praise for his opposite number though.

“I have to tell you that I am a huge admirer of Bielsa. I have closely followed his career, and I spent five or six months watching his training sessions at Athletic. It is an honour to be able to play against him.”

“Marcelo has evolved, like everyone else. He got Athletic playing wonderfully well. He employed man-to-man marking all over the pitch… His tactical approach is based on knowing the players he coaches inside out; that is his greatest strength.”

Spain currently sit top of Group H on four points, trailed by Uruguay and Cape Verde on two points. Saudi Arabia sit last on a single point going into the final round of games.

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Uruguay know they almost certainly need to win in order to make it through to the knockout stages of the World Cup against Spain, but they will have to do so in adversity. There has been talk of discontent in the Uruguay camp for some time with manager Marcelo Bielsa, and it has come to a head before their final group game.

Last year the iconic coach admitted in a press conference that he was ‘toxic’, following reports that he had fallen out with much of the dressing room in the Uruguay setup. Since, it has been confirmed that he will leave the celeste following the 2026 World Cup, but their opening two games have suggested not all is well in the camp.

Uruguay players revolt before Spain clash

According to reports in Uruguay, including from ESPN correspondent Jose Ramon Fernandez and radio station El Espectador (via Marca), various players have confronted Bielsa about his methods ahead of the Spain game. Two days before their decisive final group game in Guadalajara, Fede Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur, Sergio Rochet and Manuel Ugarte all spoke to Bielsa about his plans.

TENSIÓN EN URUGUAY A HORAS DE ENFRENTAR A ESPAÑA.

Fede Valverde, Ugarte, Bentancur y Rochet habrían encarado a Bielsa por los entrenamientos y el planteamiento ante España. El DT respondió con una charla de 48 minutos en la que les recriminó que habían intentado sacarlo del… pic.twitter.com/FWiG195yic

— José Ramón Fernández (@joserra_espn) June 26, 2026

They told the manager that his methods were not to their liking, that the physical demands placed on the squad and that his approach with the players had to change. They blame his excessive demands on the injury crisis in the Uruguay camp, and did not agree with his approach against Spain. Bielsa has not backed down though, and has demanded that his side attack Spain.

Bielsa’s curious Uruguay spell

Things started off well for Bielsa with Uruguay, leading them to the top of the table in the first half of South American qualifying for the World Cup. That included impressive victories over Brazil and Argentina in Buenos Aires. Relationships appeared to break down after that though, and slipping to fourth, having won just two of their final seven games.

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