Ronald Araujo's injury dominates Uruguay's World Cup outlook

Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo, a Barcelona player, suffered a calf micro‑tear on 4 June that ruled him out of Uruguay’s World Cup group matches against Saudi Arabia and Cabo Verde. The injury kept him from any playing time in Marcelo Bielsa’s squad, and former Uruguayan star Diego Forlán praised Araujo for speaking openly about his mental‑health concerns, calling his honesty valuable for other players.

Spain centre‑back Aymeric Laporte, speaking before Spain’s final group game versus Uruguay, said he is fully fit after a minor knock in the previous match and stressed the team’s focus on winning each game. Laporte highlighted the difficulty of facing defensive‑oriented opponents and praised Uruguay as a strong opponent, while also noting the importance of staying prepared for any rival.