2018 World Cup: France gets the first semi-final ticket

In Uruguay, they call him "maestro", "professor" because Oscar Tabarez (71 years old) taught history. Tabarez is not only the oldest coach of this World Cup, he is also the oldest. And what he's accomplished since 2006 with the light blue selection is almost a miracle. Uruguay finished fourth in the World Cup in 2010. The following year, Tabarez won the Copa America with Uruguay. In 2014, they failed miserably in the second round against Colombia. And now the Urus are back in the quarterfinals.

Tabarez had new programs created and professionalized talent. In the national training camp, he set up a library, and he told his players before the World Cup that they should learn English within four weeks

" We owe him everything, "said PSG star Edinson Cavani.

Tabarez can not go anymore. He suffered for a few years Guillain-Barré syndrome, an insidious muscle disease. He follows the games with crutches. He already runs the training in the golf cart.

Argentine columnist Alfredo Leuco compared the national coaches of Uruguay and Argentina last week: "You have a maestro, we have a clown."

Tabarez rarely comes out of his skin. When Suarez hit his opponent Chiellini in the shoulder in 2014 and was suspended, he suspected a conspiracy: "They want us out of the tournament."

Unforgettable as he plunged as a Boca Juniors club coach on his Gabriel Batistuta ground to protect, and brought in tumults a laceration on the head.

What Tabarez continues after the World Cup, he leaves open: "As long as we are in the tournament, I do not care about the future."

Watch the match Uruguay vs France live from 16 hours.

Posted on 06.07.2018 | Updated at 17:56