Chapter 50: Steps to the U20 World Cup Final

Chapter 50: Steps to the U20 World Cup Final

The match continues.

Uruguay's coach, Juan Verzeri, stands at the sideline, having instructed his players not to be perturbed by the goal conceded. "Don't panic, don't get disorganized, press forward and attack," he directs calmly, his authority helping to stabilize the team. His tactical directive was correct and necessary—trailing 0-1, Uruguay must attack to stand a chance of advancing.

Verzeri doesn't return to the bench but remains standing at the sideline, deep in thought. Having earned his position as the coach of Uruguay's U20 team, he's not without merit. The goal conceded highlighted a change in Portugal's setup: Bruno was not on his usual right flank but was central, orchestrating that attack through the middle—a crucial piece of information. Clearly, this change had initially unsettled Uruguay, lacking a prepared response.

"Giorgian!" Verzeri shouted to get his midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta's attention during a break in play. "Watch Bruno, he's organizing their attacks from the middle today; he's the pivot for Portugal!"

Giorgian nods, acknowledging the instruction. Though just 19 and still quite young, Giorgian is already a leader and the key player for this Uruguayan side, despite the presence of stars like Guillermo Bárela from Manchester United and Nico López from Roma. His talent and game-reading skills are undeniable, and he had also noticed the tactical shift.

As the match progressed, Uruguay intensified their marking on Bruno.

Verzeri nodded in approval; despite being caught off guard by Portugal's tactical shift, he wasn't overly perturbed. He had faith in his team's attacking abilities to overcome this challenge. However, his expression soon changed. After observing several ineffective Portuguese attacks, Portugal's coach Felipe Ramos signaled from the sideline, hinting at a strategic withdrawal.

"Damn it!" Verzeri cursed under his breath.

He had hoped Portugal would continue to press, offering opportunities for Uruguay to exploit gaps in their aggressive posture. He was confident in his team's ability to score, especially against a Portuguese defense that had conceded ten goals in five games. Uruguay might not have the striking prowess of Bruno and Bruma, but with Nico López, who had four goals in the tournament, they had a sharp weapon of their own.

But facing a team that buckles down defensively is always challenging. Portugal's defense might be leaky, with ten goals conceded in five games, but when they batten down the hatches, they're tough to crack.

The game soon stagnated.

Uruguayan players pushed hard but found Portugal's defense surprisingly resilient, not as weak as they had anticipated. Moreover, Portugal's front line of Bruno, Bruma, and Aladje, all quick and skillful both on and off the ball, posed a constant threat on counter-attacks.

In the 34th minute, a Portuguese counterattack broke through. João Mário's long pass found Bruno, who controlled the ball beautifully and broke through the defense to go one-on-one. Sensibly, Bruno passed to Aladje who was sprinting forward.

Facing an open goal, Aladje simply slotted the ball home.

2-0!

"Damn!" Verzeri cursed, frustrated.

Despite appearing passive, Portugal now controlled the game with a two-goal lead, their strategy clear: defend and counter. This straightforward, blunt tactic was easy to see through but hard to counter in the moment. The frustration of relentless attacks without scoring, compounded by the constant threat of counters, weighed heavily on Uruguay.

Just as Uruguay lost a second goal.

As halftime approached, the score remained 2-0 in favor of Portugal.

The second half began with Uruguay making a substitution, bringing on striker Diego Rolán from Bordeaux, replacing defender Diego Laxalt. Uruguay shifted from a 4-5-1 to a 3-5-2, signaling Verzeri's intent to throw everything forward.

Out of necessity, this was a desperate move. Trailing by two, a quick goal was crucial, or Uruguay faced elimination. However, as often the case against a tightly packed defense, they struggled to find a breakthrough. Verzeri could only hope that stacking forwards would tip the scales.

In the 64th minute, another substitution: Gonzalo Bueno came on for Federico Acevedo, shifting to a 3-4-3 to increase attacking pressure, which indeed created chances.

In the 69th minute, a beautifully worked move on the right wing saw Gonzalo Bueno fake a shot, fooling the defender Mica Pinto, then slide a diagonal pass.

"Nico López is through on goal!"

"This is Uruguay's chance!"

Verzeri was about to celebrate from the sidelines, expecting the score to narrow to 2-1, but then the referee blew his whistle for offside. The decision sparked furious protests from the Uruguayan players, though replays confirmed López was marginally offside by his shoulder.

As the match neared its end with Uruguay still trailing, Verzeri made one last gamble. In the 80th minute, he played his final card, bringing on tall striker Felipe Aviñata in place of the exhausted Giorgian De Arrascaeta. With four forwards now on the field, Uruguay had no choice but to attack.

The final minutes ticked down, and despite the urgency, Portugal's defense held firm, spurred on by goalkeeper José Sa's reminders to stay calm and focused.

"Keep cool! The game isn't over yet!" Bruno shouted, signaling to his teammates not to get carried away by the favorable situation.

Despite Uruguay's efforts, Portugal maintained their lead until the end, securing a spot in the finals against a backdrop of strategic depth and timely counterattacks.

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