Luis Suarez and Darwin Nunez were both in tears on the Uruguay bench after news of a late South Korea goal filtered through the Al Janoub Stadium.
The South American side fulfilled their end of the bargain in the final round of Group H fixtures, beating Ghana in a drama-filled clash.
They were in second place behind Portugal and set to qualify for the round-of-16, until an injury-time winner from Hwanh Hee Chan sent South Korea above them on goals scored.
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Suarez and Nunez - who both started the game but were substituted off with the game comfortably won - watched from the bench in agony as the news filtered through. The pair were close to tears as they learned of their inevitable fate and were helpless in doing anything about it.
Uruguay pushed agonisingly for a third goal to take them back above South Korea, but with their two most wiley forwards taken off, failed to find the killer instinct as Ghana inflicted a semblance of revenge for Suarez' infamous 2010 handball.
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