Spain wins World Cup group, beating Uruguay 1-0 as Muslera’s error sends 2-time champion home

GUADALAJARA, Mexico: Spain beat Uruguay 1-0 on Friday after Fernando Muslera made a goalkeeping error to advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup and eliminate the South American powerhouse.

Two-time champion Uruguay will go home without winning in all three matches in Group H. European champions Spain won the group by seven points and will face the second-placed team in Group J (Austria or Algeria) in Inglewood, California, on Thursday.

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Alex Baena scored the goal in the 42nd minute after Muslera could not clear his shot from inside the penalty area. It was the third mistake of the tournament for the 40-year-old Muslera, who was pulled by coach Marcelo Bielsa at half-time.

Uruguay, ranked 19th in the FIFA rankings, has become the highest ranked team eliminated so far.

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