Spain top their World Cup group, but injuries cloud the win

Spain secured first place in Group H at the 2026 World Cup overnight Friday to Saturday with a 1-0 victory over Uruguay, but the mood at the final whistle was far from celebratory. Alex Baena scored the only goal in the 42nd minute after an error by goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, giving La Roja a satisfactory group-stage finish rather than a dominant one.

Coach Luis de la Fuente said after the match that he had complete faith in his squad, but emphasized how difficult the contest was against a combative opponent. “I trusted this team completely... It’s a game at a very high level of difficulty,” he said. He added that the match was played “at the limit in terms of aggressiveness” and said he hoped future games would be calmer in style. De la Fuente also noted that Spain can win difficult matches even when they do not look overwhelming, saying they know how to handle “physical, intense” games and do not get drawn into provocation. He stressed the team’s defensive stability.

Spanish media also focused on the performance. Javier Silas wrote in AS that “Spain does not look like Spain,” adding that the team “needs to improve a lot” and that Uruguay exposed “the worst version” of the side. His colleague Jose Felix Diaz said Muslera “basically handed us the win as a gift.”

The victory came with two major injury concerns. Yeremy Pino suffered what De la Fuente described as a shoulder injury and possibly a broken collarbone, with an early assessment suggesting he could miss the rest of the tournament. Nico Williams also finished with groin problems, and Spain fear the issue could worsen and affect his World Cup campaign; he will undergo tests. Victor Munoz, who had also felt minor discomfort and did not play in the opening match, is still rehabbing separately and doing light work, and his availability for the round of 16 remains unclear. The coaching staff plans to reassess all of them closer to the next match, as Spain may need more attacking depth.