GUADALAJARA, Mexico - Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa had described Luis de la Fuente's Spain as playing "exquisite" football. "Much more beautiful than what I've achieved," Bielsa remarked ahead of this key World Cup Group H fixture.

Yet in Spain's hard-fought 1-0 victory on a humid, stormy night in Guadalajara, Mexico, little exquisite play was evident.

Following the excitement from the 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Atlanta - with Lamine Yamal returning and sparkling in the lineup - this contest resembled Spain's earlier 0-0 stalemate against Cape Verde more closely.

The match could easily have finished without goals, too, but for a goalkeeper error from Uruguay's Fernando Muslera, who fumbled Alex Baena's first-half effort into his own net. Bielsa replaced Muslera at the break following the player's own request, the coach confirmed.

"No, I didn't make that call. It's a decision Muslera made himself," Bielsa noted after the game.

Ever since the 2026 World Cup draw occurred, this matchup ranked among the group stage's most eagerly awaited: The European champions versus a South American powerhouse. Victory was meant to secure avoidance of Argentina in the round of 32 and a smoother knockout path.

However, Uruguay's earlier draws with Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde altered the stakes. Here, they battled not only for first place but survival in the tournament. A loss meant elimination; even a draw offered no sure path as a third-placed side.

Spain, by contrast, felt positive after their Saudi result. The sense was of a side steadily finding its rhythm, aided by Yamal's return to fitness.

That development failed to appear in Guadalajara. Instead, this marked a false start.

"Perhaps we weren't as brilliant as we hoped, or as we've displayed previously," de la Fuente said post-match. "You cannot achieve that in football every single time. But this was an extremely demanding encounter, quite rigorous. We stayed responsible, kept our focus, our calm, our full effort, and we aimed not to provoke, either."

De la Fuente made two starting changes, bringing in Marcos Llorente for Pedro Porro at right back and Mikel Merino for Dani Olmo in midfield. Neither adjustment helped. Llorente failed to link effectively with Yamal as Porro had versus the Saudis, and Olmo's runs between lines plus his final passes were missed. The outcome for much of the game was a disjointed, half-paced Spain.

Bielsa's Uruguay contributed. The veteran coach - in what will be his final match leading Uruguay - stressed beforehand that his team could not sit deep and defend; they needed to attack Spain.

"Letting them play and giving them plenty of possession will suit Spain," Bielsa said. "Spain perform worse with less of the ball." Uruguay sought to press and break Spain's rhythm. In the opening minute, they succeeded, inducing a mistake by closing down Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon.

But Spain began asserting control, and by the first quarter the pattern emerged. Spain held 76 percent possession yet managed only two shots, none on target. Uruguay had none.

When the goal arrived in the 42nd minute, it came via Muslera. Baena's effort should have been gathered easily. Instead, Muslera pushed it into the net's corner.

After halftime, the contest turned fractious. A poor challenge on Yamal by Uruguay defender Juan Sanabria earned a yellow card. Worse followed, with Uruguay's Agustin Canobbio dismissed for a reckless tackle on Spain's Pau Cubarsi in stoppage time, as benches emptied and tempers flared.

Meanwhile, Spain continued poor choices. Substitute Olmo fired well wide from a good spot inside the area. Yamal attempted solo skill but made no headway. Olmo spun cleverly from his marker, then passed to nobody. Another sub, Ferran Torres, struck the crossbar late.

Despite strong showings already from Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedri at this event, questions linger about this Spain side. One involves goal. Unai Simon looked shaky here, dropping two first-half crosses and appearing uncertain on the ball. David Raya and Joan Garcia sit on the bench; De la Fuente remains loyal to Simon.

In midfield, Rodri appeared off form. He recorded the most touches and passes among Spain players but provided little drive or forward thrust. Merino made little difference, as did Oyarzabal, with just one shot between them.

The positive is Yamal completed 76 minutes. The negative is he could not shape the game as against Saudi Arabia.

Of course, Spain's issues pale next to Uruguay's. Bielsa's side had chances but created just one big opportunity, for an xG of 0.20, and lost composure late.

"We aimed for seven points and got two, and that sums up my work and results," Bielsa said afterward. "I had to handle a qualified group of players, and I couldn't get more from them."

Mexican supporters in the stands relished Uruguay's plight. "Cape Verde! Cape Verde!" they sang late, as it grew clear which team would join Spain in the round of 32.

Leading the group, and thus dodging Argentina, was Spain's goal here. In that, they succeeded. Yet eventually they must confront a strong side at this World Cup.

When that occurs - perhaps in the round of 16 - they will need to deliver far more.