Why imperfect perfectionist Marcelo Bielsa and Uruguay were doomed to fail at World Cup
Marcelo Bielsa’s World Cup started with him staring at the floor. Now he is staring at an early exit. “I’m not a model,” said the Uruguay manager after his official Fifa photo showed him refusing to look at the camera. It has not been a model World Cup for him, either: draws with Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde leave Uruguay requiring at least a point against Spain to avert an ignominiously early exit, and with it the end of Bielsa’s reign.
His quirks endear him to some; not in Uruguay though. One of the most idiosyncratic of managers can inspire awe – certainly in Leeds – but has been greeted with greater irritation in Uruguay. Bielsa being Bielsa, instead of deflecting blame, he has found fault with himself. "Organisational mistakes that a squad makes, they always fall upon the driver. And what I mean by that is the head coach,” he said after defensive mix-ups helped the supposed minnows of Cape Verde draw 2-2 with two-time World Cup winners. Uruguay, Bielsa said, now face a “gargantuan challenge” just to progress.
Which should not have been the case; partly from a seemingly friendly group, partly because Bielsa has reasons to support his argument they should have six points so far. Uruguay battered Saudi Arabia in the second half of a game when they took 27 shots and yet drew 1-1. Nevertheless, Uruguay’s is an unhappy camp and Bielsa, in between railing against hydration breaks, has cut a miserable figure when sat on his trademark ice cooler.
Little has gone right for him. Selecting Fede Valverde, a hugely versatile player but one of the world’s best midfielders, on the right wing against Saudi Arabia backfired. Bringing Fernando Muslera, now 40, out of international retirement has looked costly: the veteran made a couple of fine saves in Uruguay’s opener but has been culpable to varying degrees for each of the three goals they have conceded, even if a shambles of a defensive wall for Kevin Pina’s free kick was hardly all his fault.
Meanwhile, the veteran who volunteered to return to international football has watched on from the executive boxes. It can seem that Bielsa is being stalked by Luis Suarez, who ended his international career in 2024 with a blast at the manager. “Players are going to reach a limit and explode,” said, two years ago, a man with a track record of exploding.
That Bielsa, with his famous fondness for high pressing, did not want a 39-year-old Suarez to lead the line now is perhaps unsurprising. Suarez, in turn, had criticised the man-management of Bielsa, who can be socially awkward. He had accused him of treating Agustin Canobbio as like a ball boy; Canobbio, omitted for a couple of years, scored against Cape Verde, though it merely extended Uruguay’s drawing habit.
They have now gone eight months without a win, a time in which the nadir was a 5-1 thrashing by the United States; that they are led by a Bielsa disciple, in Mauricio Pochettino, but one with more warmth and people skills, may have stung. In the aftermath, Bielsa, with his gift for self-flagellation, declared he was “toxic”.
It was a reference to his perfectionism. A self-diagnosis as shy, obsessive and robotic sounded accurate. Yet he also inspires devotion, in part due to a style of play that can be seductive in his speed. Bielsa can feel like the most idealistic of the idealists.
He may be best suited to jobs where there is a distinct identity – think Leeds, think Athletic Bilbao – and can be self-deprecating in his references to his lack of silverware. His influence may be greater than his achievements. His World Cup experiences are largely unsuccessful, albeit with one exception.
Bielsa has become the first man to take charge of each of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. He steered Chile to the last 16 in 2010, playing some thrilling football. He took Argentina to the 2002 tournament as joint favourites and they exited in the group; perhaps that is a sign Bielsa is better with more impressionable groups of players and lower expectations.
Uruguay, with their storied past, may have represented an awkward post; walking into a job defined in the 21st century by Oscar Tabarez, with the added impediment of being Argentinian, as an era was ending with Suarez, Edinson Cavani, Diego Godin and Muslera, stalwarts for a decade and a half, all in their footballing dotage. Bielsa was further disadvantaged when Al-Hilal omitted Darwin Nunez from their squad for the second half of the season, thus denying Uruguay’s rampaging bull of his sharpness. Nunez was dropped after the Saudi Arabia game. At 39, Suarez may not be the answer but a profligate Uruguay lack goals.
The job came with difficulties. Arguably, Bielsa has compounded them. He and Uruguay feel a mismatch, the team defined by the fighting spirit Tabarez instilled instead experimenting with Bielsa’s brand of chaos. But if Uruguay tumble of the tournament early, it will feel a mess, and probably a sad end to Bielsa’s World Cup career.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
