Oscar Tabarez admitted that he was concerned for the direction of the game in seeing his Uruguay side dominated in the opening stages of defeat to Spain.
La Roja recorded over 90 per cent ball possession in the first 10 minutes of this Confederations Cup Group B encounter, in a dominant first-half display.
Whilst it produced the two goals for the Spanish that Luis Suarez’ late free-kick was not enough to combat, the South Americans’ Coach admitted that things could have been a whole lot worse.
“I am relieved it was 2-1 and not a much heavier scoreline,” Tabarez told reporters afterwards.
“Taking into account the development of the game, it could have been a catastrophic result.
“Spain was highly superior in play at all times and deserved their victory. They imposed their conditions and we did not do what was necessary in terms of ball recovery.
“If Spain thrashed Italy and Germany, why should they not beat Uruguay? They are a team that impose their conditions and are playing in a tournament that they have unfinished business with.
“The next match, against Nigeria, is the most important of all, if we win then I think we have a chance of being in the semi-finals.”
