Spain Vs Uruguay: Ashley Westwood Backs La Roja And Praises Lamine Yamal

Mumbai, June 26: Former Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters FC head coach and Zee 5 FIFA World Cup expert Ashley Westwood said the ongoing tournament has had the full mix of football, from unpredictable results and tactical fights to iconic players and big moments.

Looking ahead to the Spain national football team vs Uruguay national football team clash, Westwood backed Spain’s possession game and praised Lamine Yamal. He said Uruguay would be hard to beat because of their resilience, aggression and intensity, but Spain should have the edge.

“Spain will have the advantage because they dominate possession, control the game well and have incredible players in midfield like Pedri, Gavi and Rodri. Uruguay always bring resilience, aggression and intensity, so it will be a difficult game to predict, but if I had to choose, I would say Spain would come out on top.”

Westwood said Yamal stands out at 18, adding that the winger already looks comfortable at this level. He said every touch raises expectation and that Yamal can beat players, score goals and create assists. For Uruguay, he named Federico Valverde as the player most likely to decide the game.

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“For Spain, it has to be Lamine Yamal. He can change a game on his own with his dribbling, pace and ability to beat defenders. For Uruguay, Valverde is a complete midfielder. He can score from distance, arrive in the box and influence the game in every area.”

Reflecting on his Zee 5 expert panel role, Westwood said the World Cup has been good to watch because teams use different styles and managers from across the world. He also said Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo remain a joy to watch, while fans around the stadiums have added to the event.

Westwood said one of the main lessons of the tournament is that football stays hard to predict, with teams defending deep against stronger sides. He cited Iran, Cape Verde and Ghana against England as examples of teams grinding out results, and he praised England’s strong spell after half-time as a standout moment.