Edinson Cavani has appeared to point the finger of blame at Uruguay coach Diego Alonso for his nation’s World Cup struggles.
Uruguay need to beat Ghana in their final group game to have any chance of reaching the last 16 following the 2-0 defeat at the hands of Portugal on Monday night. They sit bottom of their group with just one point - and Cavani indicated that Alonso must carry the can.
The former Manchester United striker said: "You will have to ask Alonso about why we lost. He will be able to explain what happened tactically. There are many things that happen on the pitch that lead you to not being able to win the game.
"Sometimes football matches work out and sometimes they don’t. Losing leaves a bitter taste because we have the potential to give more. We know that there are things to improve and correct and prepare for the next game as it should be prepared.
"We need to find what we came here looking for out of this first round of matches. We will correct what we have done wrong and we will try to do things better to win the last game."
Alonso took over as Uruguay boss in December last year after Oscar Tabarez stood down after 15 years in the job. He won seven of his first nine games in charge, losing just once.
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But one of Alonso’s problems is that he is still relying on ageing stars like 35-year-old Cavani. Luis Suarez is also 35, while defender Diego Godin is 36.
"Disappointing showing from Uruguay," Matthew Upson told BBC Sport during Monday's game. "There is nothing worse than coming off the pitch in a big game and you don't feel you've given as good as an account of yourself as a team or individually."
Uruguay's World Cup campaign could end at the hands of Ghana on Friday. Alonso's side must win their final group game and hope South Korea fail to beat Portugal, who have already progressed, to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup.
Ghana will be keen to inflict revenge on Uruguay for their defeat in South Africa 12 years ago. They were denied the chance to become the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final when Suarez handled the ball on the line in the dying seconds of extra time.
Suarez was sent off, but Asamoah Gyan failed to score the resulting penalty in Johannesburg. The game then went to a shootout and Uruguay took the spoils.
Uruguay have reached the knockout stages in each of the last two World Cups - losing to 2-0 to Colombia in the last 16 in Brazil and suffering the same result to France in the quarter-finals in Russia. Their most recent piece of silverware is the 2011 Copa America.
