In numbers: Pau Cubarsi becomes Spain’s biggest winner from disappointing Uruguay encounter

In numbers: Pau Cubarsi becomes Spain’s biggest winner from disappointing Uruguay encounter Spain secured a 1-0 victory over Uruguay in their final Group H fixture at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the performance itself left plenty of questions unanswered ahead of the knockout rounds. What was expected to be one of the standout matches of the World Cup group stage descended into a chaotic and physical affair, with both Spain and Uruguay struggling to impose themselves in possession.  Spain ultimately found the breakthrough through Alex Baena, although the winning goal came courtesy of a costly mistake from Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. Amid a difficult evening for Spain, Barcelona centre-back Pau Cubarsi enhanced his reputation with another mature display at the heart of defence. Cubarsi’s impressive World Cup campaign Cubarsi has been one of Spain’s most consistent performers during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and his performance against Uruguay only reinforced that impression. For what it is worth, Spain lacked control, struggled to create clear opportunities and often looked uncomfortable against Uruguay’s aggressive approach.  Yet Cubarsi dealt with the physical battle exceptionally well and was among the few Spanish players who managed to maintain composure throughout the contest. A look at the numbers Simply put, the Barcelona defender played a crucial role in helping Spain keep a clean sheet and was heavily involved from the opening whistle until the final stages of the match. He registered five defensive contributions , completed five clearances and recovered possession four times , while also winning four duels against Uruguay’s attackers . On the ball, the Barcelona youngster displayed his usual confidence, completing 85 passes from 96 touches and successfully delivering two long balls . Spain vs Uruguay raises concerns Although Spain finished the group stage with another victory, the overall performance against Uruguay was far from convincing. Simply put, the match was dominated by fouls, interruptions and physical confrontations, with both sides appearing disjointed in possession and lacking fluency in attacking areas. The midfield battle never truly developed, while neither team managed to establish sustained periods of control. Baena’s winning goal eventually settled the contest, but even that moment reflected the chaotic nature of the game, with Fernando Muslera committing a significant goalkeeping error that gifted Spain the decisive breakthrough.