Durham’s criticism is sharpened by Bielsa’s standing in football. The coach remains revered at Leeds, where murals still celebrate his influence, but Durham believes his Uruguay campaign fell dramatically short of that reputation.
After Uruguay’s final match, Bielsa held a lengthy press conference and emphasised that his players had run significantly more than their opponents during the group stage. Durham mocked that focus on physical output, arguing that work rate could not disguise a campaign lacking the required results and authority.
The judgment is harsh, but major tournaments often expose the gap between a manager’s reputation and his team’s execution.
Durham’s ranking also included several other notable underachievers:
Haaland’s tournament also carried controversy after a two-handed push on Elliot Anderson helped cancel out a Norwegian goal.
The focus now shifts to England v Argentina, with a place against Spain in Sunday’s final at stake. A commanding semifinal performance could quickly change the tournament’s narrative - and provide the next benchmark against which Durham’s list is judged.