🏅 MOTM: A true modern defender | OneFootball

Things ended goalless between Uruguay and South Korea on Thursday.

And our Man of the Match is …

José Giménez (Uruguay)

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The last time José Giménez did not start a World Cup group stage game for Uruguay they lost, suffering a shock 3-1 defeat to Costa Rica back in 2014. He was just a teenager at the time but came into the side for the rest of the tournament.

The centre-back has started five of the six group games on the biggest stage since that loss, missing a win over Russia through injury, and Uruguay have won four and drawn one, keeping four clean sheets.

The Atlético Madrid man is a fine defender — that much is always clear and was again on Thursday as, with his old partner-in-crime Diego Godín, Giménez headed, kicked, tackled, or blocked pretty much anything that came his way — but he is also a fine footballer.

Uruguay never truly got going against South Korea, perhaps focusing on not losing more than on winning, but Giménez tried to add impetus from the back when he could.

A fine long ball found Federico Valverde’s run in behind in a tight first half and it was that same pass, either drifting the ball over the top or switching play, that often looked Uruguay’s most successful attempt to add some pace and threat to their play.

Truly a modern defender, Giménez looks as comfortable with the ball as he looks winning it. If Uruguay are to impress in Qatar, they will need Giménez to keep performing on both sides of the ball.