“We weren’t as good as France. That’s the way we see it,” said Uruguayan coach Oscar Tabarez after his team’s only loss of the World Cup. “We played against an opponent stronger than us. We have to admit it.”
The South Americans, who entered the day with more set-piece goals than any other team in the tournament, nearly tied the score minutes later when a long free kick from Lucas Torreira was headed on target by Martin Caceres. But French keeper Hugo Lloris, who had an outstanding game, made a diving one-handed stop at the left post and Godin, charging after the rebound, could not put it on target from a tough angle.