Marcelo Bielsa holds an Uruguay jersey during his presentation as coach of Uruguayan at Centenario … [+] Stadium on May 17, 2023 in Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Uruguay are one of four top sides capable of winning the Copa América this summer and the bookmakers have them as the third most likely team to lift the trophy.
Their group fixtures are:
Panama, June 23rd in Miami
Bolivia, June 27th in New Jersey
United States, July 1st in Kansas City
Uruguay are a team in the ascendancy and a football nation that always punches above their weight. The state that appears small, trapped between the giant land masses of Brazil and Argentina, is home to a relatively humble number of 3.5 million people. Yet they have won two World Cup titles and a joint-record 15 Copa América trophies (tied with Argentina.)
Their coach is the meticulous maestro known as Marcelo Bielsa. The ex-Leeds, Marseille and Atheltic Bilbao manager will turn 69 a week after this tournament ends. A first trophy since he won the English Championship in 2020 would be a fine birthday gift. He was runner-up as manager of his native Argentina in the 2004 Copa.
At the end of last year South American sides completed the first six fixtures in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying, and only Argentina collected more points than Bielsa’s Uruguay. The celeste defeated Brazil 2-0 in October and then won 2-0 against World Cup winners Argentina in a November visit to Buenos Aires. They have proven therefore that they are up for the challenge this summer.
Uruguay’s defender Ronald Araujo (L) and forward Darwin Nunez (R), the players who scored for … [+] Uruguay to defeat Argentina, pose for a picture after the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualification football match between Argentina and Uruguay at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires on November 16, 2023.
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Recent victories have come in style too. The team appears dynamic and is bursting with life and optimism. Plenty of young players under the watchful eye of Bielsa have brought an energy and fight to this team that will be hard for others to match. With 13 World Cup qualifying goals so far they have five more than anybody else in South America too.
Uruguay boast some incredible talent in their ranks; from the likes of Champions League winner Federico Valverde, to Liverpool forward Darwin Núñez and last year’s Argentinian league player of the year Nicolás de la Cruz. Uruguay also won the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina so a fine crop of young talent is emerging to support these stars.
The toughest thing for Uruguay is the state of the draw for this tournament. If they win their group they will likely need to beat Colombia and Brazil in quarter and semifinals just to reach the final. Such fixtures would be worthy of being a final themselves and take gargantuan efforts to overcome, but Bielsa teams are famous for their boundless energy, so let’s see what challenges they can overcome.
Uruguay are due a victory in this tournament. As mentioned, they are the record holders. Yet, 2011 is their only Copa América title since 1995. In 2011 they triumphed in Argentina, knocking out the hosts and then smashing Paraguay 3-0 in the final thanks to goals from Luis Suárez and Diego Forlán. Many feel it is their time to lift the famous trophy once more.
Players of Uruguay celebrate title during the Copa America 2011 final match between Uruguay and … [+] Paraguay at Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti Stadium on July 24, 2011 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Source link : https://www.forbes.com/sites/josephosullivan/2024/06/08/marcelo-bielsas-uruguay-go-for-copa-amrica-2024-glory/
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Publish date : 2024-06-08 05:23:11
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