Fucile: This is no time to panic - URUGUAY
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- Uruguay lie third in qualifying for Russia 2018
- La Celeste are on a run of three straight defeats
- Fucile discusses the situation and puts it into context
After contesting the last four intercontinental play-offs, Uruguay seemed to be making fairly light work of qualifying for 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.
As recently as last November, after beating Ecuador, La Celeste were second in the South American standings with 23 points, one behind Brazil but five ahead of Colombia, six clear of Ecuador and Chile, and seven ahead of Argentina.
Moreover, they were still a comfortable eight points clear of Paraguay and nine points ahead of Peru.
But three consecutive defeats against Chile, Brazil and Peru have drastically changed the outlook for La Celeste, who have slipped to third in the table and are now part of a group of seven teams separated by just six points, with 12 left to play for.
"I'm not going to lie: the truth is I thought it’d be easier this time," Jorge Fucile, a veteran of the last two World Cups, told FIFA.com with brutal honesty.
"But results change suddenly and now we’ve slipped back into the chasing pack. What happened to us? A loss of form, like all the teams suffer at some stage," explained the versatile 32-year-old.
"It happened to Argentina twice in this qualifying campaign, as well as to Colombia and Chile... Even Brazil, who have already qualified, didn't get off to a good start. Some things are hard to explain. Now it's our turn."
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The play-off is nothing to fear
"The good thing is that we are still in the direct qualification spots, something we need to hang onto at all costs. And we shouldn't forget that we’re better off than in the last qualifying campaign," added the full-back.
In fact, La Celeste are better off than at any time since the qualifiers adopted the current single-group, home-and-away format, having never previously been in the top four with four games to go.
"That's why this is no time to panic. Instead we need to build on what we’ve achieved so far and try to remain near the top – something that we’ve never found easy."
Ever the realist, Fucile understands the media's fascination with the play-off, and admitted that there is now a distinct possibility that Uruguay will be involved in it. But it does not frighten him.
"It doesn't matter if Uruguay qualify via another play-off. We want to qualify for the World Cup, no matter how or why. As it stands, we’re in a direct qualification spot, and it’s in our own hands."
The Club Nacional defender, who was involved in the last play-off against Jordan four years ago, thinks that Uruguay’s experience in handling the pressure of previous play-offs could tip the balance in their favour: "This team has learned to be mentally strong. There was a time when we were seen as a laughing stock and very few people believed in us. Even so, we picked ourselves up and bounced back. We've been through worse situations."
Next up for Uruguay
Argentina (H), Paraguay (A), Venezuela (A) and Bolivia (H)
"I'll miss the game against Argentina after picking up two yellow cards, but I haven't forgotten that we nearly missed out on the World Cup in South Africa after they beat us in Montevideo. That should be enough to motivate the team."
The Stat
14 Of the 21 games Fucile has played in qualifying, all of which have come under Oscar Tabarez, 14 have been away from home. These produced four wins, five defeats and five draws. The full-back remains undefeated on home soil, with five wins and two draws.