While Uruguay fights for a Last 16 spot at the World Cup in Russia, their veteran coach Oscar Tabarez leads his own personal battle. The 71-year-old, who is the oldest coach at the tournament, suffers from Guillain-Barre syndrome - a rare disease (2 cases in 100,000 people per year) which affects the nervous system and causes muscular weakness in the limbs and chest. Eventually it may lead to a paralysis.

Tabarez, who has been in charge of Uruguay since 2006, was diagnosed with the illness two years ago. He considered stepping down at the time, but thanks to a special treatment his condition has improved.

However, the coach needs to use the crutches, and before Uruguay’s opening World Cup game with Egypt, he was helped to his seat by his team’s staff member. And when the defender Jose Gimenez scored the winner late in the game, his teammates and staff members from the bench rushed to him - all except Tabarez, who simply could not do it.

During the trainings, he has to move around on a golf cart or use an electric wheelchair. Often he can watch the exercises only sitting, but he does everything so that the disease does not affect his work. After all, this is already his fourth World Cup with Uruguay - the coach nicknamed El Maestro was at the helm in 1990, and then in 2010 and 2014.