Cavani Leads Uruguay Into Saudi Arabia Opener in Miami
cavani leads Uruguay into Monday evening’s Group H opener against Saudi Arabia in Miami, and Santi Bueno says his first World Cup feels like the fulfillment of a childhood dream. Uruguay begins a difficult group that also includes Spain and Cape Verde, so the first result immediately sets the tone for what follows.
Santi Bueno and Marcelo Bielsa
Bueno said he is eager to be part of the squad because the tournament has been a long-time target, and he tied that feeling to the way he carries Uruguay. He called it a dream to represent his country on the World Cup stage and said he arrives at this moment with more age and experience behind him.
Less than 12 months ago, he wore the captain’s armband for Marcelo Bielsa’s side in a friendly and in a match against Uzbekistan. Bueno said it was a dream to wear it, noted that great players throughout Uruguay’s history have worn the armband, and said he was proud of the recognition.
Uruguay in Group H
Four years ago, Bueno narrowly missed out on Uruguay’s final World Cup squad. That makes this opening in Miami more than a routine first match; it is the first time he gets to step into the tournament he said he had imagined as a child.
He also said his years at Wolves in the Premier League helped him grow and develop as a player and as a person. That experience feeds into his view of Uruguay now, which he described as a team with very good individual players at the biggest clubs in the world and one capable of competing with all national teams.
Miami and the long route
Uruguay starts against Saudi Arabia at 11pm on Monday evening, then faces Spain and Cape Verde in Group H. Bueno said the path has to be taken step by step, with the group stage first before anything else can be mapped out.
He pushed the ambition further, saying reaching the final would be “very, very incredible,” while pointing to Argentina’s title run as proof of how much a World Cup can move a country. For Uruguay, the opener in Miami is the first test of whether that larger target can stay alive past the group stage.
