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Edinson Cavani lost his fitness battle and was not healthy enough to start Uruguay 's World Cup quarter-final with France .
The PSG star was Uruguay's two-goal hero against Portugal in the last-16, but could not recover in time from his calf injury to start the game in Nizhny Novgorod.
There was a degree of mystery with the Albiceleste's teamsheet indicating the 31-year-old was on the bench but official Fifa documentation confirmed he was indeed injured and out of the game.
World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratingsShow all 22 1 /22World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Fernando Muslera- 7/10 Had little to do in the first half, helped by a very strong defence, looked unsure under some high balls late on.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Martin Caceres - 7/10 An energetic defender that thwarted Portugal down his right so much, that almost all of their attacks and balls in came from the left.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Jose Gimenez - 8/10 Alongside his clubmate Godin, Gimenez looked strong in defence, and rarely left a player unmarked.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Diego Godin - 7/10 The captain, and the leader, Cavani’s opening goal meant they would be facing plenty of attacks, he rose to the occasion in his usual no-nonsense manner.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Diego Laxalt - 7/10 Lost possession a couple of times, but played well for the most part, and worked hard for his team.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Lucas Torreira - 7/10 A slight figure in stature, but the potentially Arsenal-bound midfielder dealt well with the physicality of the likes of William Carvalho.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Nahitan Nandez - 7/10 Another to fight for every ball, he put his body on the line for his team, helped by Cavani when left isolated on occasion.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Matias Vecino - 7/10 Hard working and comfortable in possession, despite all of the Portuguese pressure.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Rodrigo Bentancur - 6/10 Showed sparks of his growing talent, but had little direct effect on the attacks with Suarez and Cavani in fine form.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Luis Suarez - 8/10 A constant menace to the defence as always, as well as providing an assist for Cavani’s opener.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Edinson Cavani - 9/10 The best player for Uruguay, his one-two with Suarez which he created and scored was the difference, and he helped out in defence too.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Rui Patricio - 6/10 Couldn’t do a great deal about Cavani’s goals and was almost the hero late on amidst a penalty appeal in added time.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Ricardo Pereira - 6/10 For most of the game Portugal pushed forward looking to find an equaliser, and he looked a threat there rather than solid in defence.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Pepe - 7/10 A danger from set pieces when he is able to evade Suarez and Cavani at the other end, and showed that with his second half goal, could’ve done better for Cavani’s second.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Jose Fonte - 6/10 A threat from set pieces, but struggled with an inform duo of Suarez and Cavani.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Raphael Guerreiro - 6/10 Could have done better for Cavani’s opening goal, but the victim of a good ball, and struggled against Caceres going forward.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Bernardo Silva - 7/10 Had lots of possession down the Portuguese right but struggled to find a final ball for Guedes or Ronaldo. Had plenty of energy until the very last moment.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Adrien Silva - 6/10 Had little direct impact on the game, kept possession ticking over, average and replaced in the second half.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings William Carvalho - 6/10 Comfortable in possession but at times Portugal were open on the counter leaving his defence vulnerable.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Joao Mario - 6/10 A danger going forward, he is never afraid to take someone on and try to surge forward. Lacking a final ball.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Goncalo Guedes - 5/10 Underwhelming, and has looked a little overawed by the World Cup stage. Looks not quite ready for the pressure of a nation at just 21.
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World Cup: Uruguay vs Portugal player ratings Cristiano Ronaldo - 6/10 Struggled against the solidity of Uruguay’s defence, but always calling for the ball and trying to make it happen. Shouldering the hopes of a nation was too much tonight.
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Former Middlesbrough striker Cristhian Stuani lined up alongside Barcelona star Luis Suarez in attack for the South Americans instead in an otherwise unchanged side.
Meanwhile, Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps was also forced into a change as well.
Corentin Tolisso came in for the suspended Blaise Matuidi in midfield in the only alteration to the side that beat Argentina 4-3 in a thriller in the last round.
The European side's attack is spearheaded once again by Olivier Giroud with Kylian Mbappe, hero of the win over Argentina on Saturday, and Antoine Griezmann alongside him.
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