Rodrigo Bentancur and Uruguay secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Canada on Tuesday night, and the Tottenham midfielder was praised by Uruguayan media outlet El Pais for his “elegant” display in the middle of the park.
Bentancur, who only turned 25 in the summer, is becoming somewhat of a leader for his country. That was his 51st cap for Uruguay, and is well on the way to reaching a century – even by the time he is 30. He will be at the World Cup.
Uruguay prepared for it in the best way possible. On the back of a shock 1-0 defeat to Iran, they really needed to beat Canada – and they did. River Plate winger Nicolas De La Cruz opened the scoring, before Darwin Nunez got a second.
A comfortable win for Uruguay, who also fielded Luis Suarez and Fede Valverde – the latter alongside Bentancur. El Pais were very complimentary of Bentancur’s outing. They say he was “elegant”, and the best on the ball in the second 45.
“Elegant on the way out with the ball. He cut and played with the ruffles on the outside. With De La Cruz he generated a very good connection. The clearest in the midst of the sloppiness that Uruguay had with the ball in the second half.”
Tottenham midfielder Bentancur praised by Uruguayan media in 2-0 win
What Bentancur has become renowned for is his consistency. Little phases the Spurs midfielder. He continues to churn out solid performances, week in week out, whether that is for club – or seemingly – country. A mainstay for Spurs.
Rarely does his performance levels dip below a 7. Superb in transition and turning in tight spaces, Bentancur is becoming a leader, too. While Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is shining so far, Bentancur has been more solid, understated.
But do not underestimate just how important he is to that Spurs side – or indeed, to Uruguay’s team. Like at Spurs, Valverde is getting plenty of compliments regarding his Madrid form. But he is the authority, the calm presence.
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