It has been 13 years since Uruguay final lifted the Copa America trophy having overwhelmed Paraguay 3-0 within the 2011 version in Argentina and this summer time might see the 15-time winners change into the only nation on the prime of the competitions honours listing.
La Celeste have been a workforce reworked since Marcelo Bielsa took over the South American nation final yr with the previous Leeds United boss bringing his thrilling type of soccer again to the worldwide scene.
Uruguay at the moment sit second behind Argentina in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying after six video games and look the largest risk to the defending Copa America champions this summer time in the US.
Bielsa’s males defeated Lionel Messi and mates 2-0 final November and that can give them plenty of confidence in overcoming the World Cup champions. Uruguay additionally arrive on the 2024 Copa America in nice kind having hammered Mexico 4-0 of their remaining pre-tournament pleasant.
That sport noticed Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez rating a hat-trick and Bielsa will want the unorthodox striker to be on prime kind if they’re to be topped champions of South America over the subsequent month. If not, La Celeste produce other weapons, which is why they’re the nation Argentina could have the closest eye on all through their time in the US.
Earlier Copa America end
Uruguay’s final Copa America look in 2021 was underwhelming as regardless of not being nearly as good as the present group of gamers, the expectations would have been to at the least attain the semi-finals. Nonetheless, Oscar Tabárez’s facet have been eradicated on penalties by Colombia on the quarter-final stage.
La Celeste completed second of their group behind eventual winners Argentina, successful two and drawing one in every of their 4 video games. That led them to play Colombia reasonably than a better Ecuador, which resulted of their elimination.
A disappointing World Cup in 2022 would comply with their Copa America disappointment, however Bielsa’s workforce have come a good distance since then.
Uruguay’s 2024 Copa America squad
Uruguay aren’t a workforce with many standout names however the stars they do have are fairly particular.
Ronald Araujo, Jose Maria Gimenez, Manuel Ugarte, Rodrigo Bentancur, Federico Valverde and Darwin Nunez are all at among the largest golf equipment on the earth and will likely be names informal followers of South American soccer will recognise.
One participant to keep watch over is Flamengo’s Nicolas de la Cruz, who’s a widely known determine for followers of South American membership soccer. The 27-year-old is one in every of Uruguay’s largest inventive threats and has been very helpful for Bielsa because the midfielder is a flexible participant, who can play as a central midfielder and on the wing.
Goalkeepers
Sergio Rochet (Internacional), Santiago Mele (Atletico Junior), Franco Israel (Sporting Lisbon)
Defenders
Ronald Araujo (Barcelona), Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Nicolas Marichal (Dinamo Moscow), Matias Vina (Flamengo), Lucas Olaza (Krasnodar), Mathias Olivera (Napoli), Sebastian Caceres (Membership America), Guillermo Varela (Flamengo), Nahitan Nandez (Cagliari)
Midfielders
Manuel Ugarte (PSG), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham), Federico Valverde (Actual Madrid), Emiliano Martinez (Midtjylland), Nicolas de la Cruz (Flamengo), Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo)
Forwards
Luis Suarez (Inter Miami), Darwin Nunez (Liverpool), Agustin Canobbio (Athletico Paranaense), Brian Rodriguez (Membership America), Brian Ocampo (Cadiz), Facundo Pellistri (Manchester United), Maximiliano Araujo (Toluca), Cristian Olivera (LAFC)
Anticipated beginning 11
Uruguay, like lots of the prime nations in South America, prefer to arrange in both a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation however it’s a workforce Bielsa might tinker with.
La Celeste arrange within the latter for his or her most up-to-date match towards Mexico, however that line-up didn’t comprise all of their massive stars.
All through their 2024 Copa America marketing campaign, Uruguay ought to look one thing like the next.
Key participant
Federico Valverde
It’s onerous to say who Uruguay’s most essential participant is as Marcelo Bielsa will want Darwin Nunez to seek out the again of the web if they’re to go far within the competitors, whereas needing Ronald Araujo to point out his world-class capability on the again; nonetheless, the principle man for La Celeste is prone to be their captain, Actual Madrid’s Federico Valverde.
The 25-year-old was as soon as once more a key participant for the La Liga giants this season as they accomplished the Spanish league and Champions League double, with the midfielder that includes in 54 video games for Los Blancos, scoring three targets and aiding an additional eight.
Valverde is beneficial on each side of the ball because the Actual Madrid star epitomises the phrase vitality; the Uruguay captain makes runs ahead and has the power to attain a stunner once in a while, whereas additionally being part of the defensive work together with his aggression and pace to recuperate.
The 25-year-old can be very versatile and may basically play anyplace on the pitch. That is all the time a helpful factor to have in tournaments corresponding to Copa America as it’s onerous to foretell what will get thrown up when it comes to accidents and what a workforce may want on the day.
Valverde will be unable to do all of it on his personal this summer time in America, however a high-performing Actual Madrid star will go a good distance in serving to Bielsa’s males be victorious over the approaching month.
Predicted end
Uruguay are in a superb place heading into the 2024 version of Copa America and have the instruments to win the match. Nonetheless, they’ll probably fall quick and finish the month as Runners-Up.
Bielsa’s males ought to prime their group as it’s a straightforward one for them alongside the USA, Panama and Bolivia. That may probably arrange a quarter-final conflict with Colombia, which will likely be a troublesome matchup for La Celeste. Victory in that troublesome tie would gas their confidence additional and that might see them overcome Brazil within the semi-finals.
Leaving defending champions Argentina between Uruguay and their first Copa America since 2011, which the World Cup winners will likely be favourites to win.
Marcelo Bielsa’s males have a really powerful run if they’re to win Copa America this summer time however this Uruguay workforce is harmful, they usually appear able to ruffle a number of feathers in the US.
