2024-07-07 03:01:06
Brazil and Uruguay will face each other in the high-voltage match of the quarter-finals of the Copa America on Sunday (July 7, 2024). The match will start at 7 am Bangladesh time.
Brazil, however, have never lost to Uruguay in a Copa America knockout stage match before. Won two. After being tied at three, it went to a tiebreaker. Brazil won both of them. lost in one.
But this time the situation is different. Brazil are struggling to find their rhythm under new coach Dorival Jr. They played three matches in the group stage and won only one. Draw with Costa Rica and Colombia. The runners-up from ‘D’ group entered the quarter-finals.
On the other hand, Uruguay is flying. In ‘C’ group, they won three out of three matches and became the group’s best in the last eight. They beat Panama 3-1 in the first match. In the next match, they beat Bolivia 5-0. And in the last match, the hosts beat the United States 1-0 to confirm the knockout stage.
In the group stage, Uruguay had the ball in the opponent’s net 9 times. Which is the highest in this season. No one has scored more goals than Uruguay this season. Against 9 goals conceded only 2 goals.
If Uruguay maintains the consistency of such performance against Brazil, danger awaits the Seleção. Brazilian Real star Vinicius Junior will not be able to play in this match. Which is undoubtedly a big shock for Brazil.
This is the first time since 2007 that Brazil will meet Uruguay in the knockout stage. The two teams met in the semi-finals in 2007. The Selecao reached the final after beating Uruguay in a tiebreaker. There was also a champion.
This time, however, Argentina’s former striker Aguero thinks that Uruguay is the favorite against Brazil, ‘not only Brazil but Uruguay can challenge the current champion Argentina. They currently have more to offer under Marcelo Bielsa’s tutelage. They should go further in this tournament. Only Uruguay can beat us. Because Bielsa knows Lionel Scaloni very well. Let’s not forget that only Uruguay beat us after we became world champions. They also beat Brazil in the World Cup qualifiers.’
Even though Vinny was unable to play against Uruguay, Danilo feels they have the players to make up for him, ‘Vinny is a big player without a doubt. That can give us victory. But we have more players. Their potential and quality are also many. Let’s give it a try in Vinny’s absence.’
Uruguay’s Probable Starting Lineup:
Rochet, Nandez, R. Araujo, M. Oliveira, Vina, Ugarte, Valverde, Pelestri, de la Cruz, C. Oliveira and Nunez.
Brazil’s probable starting lineup:
Alisson, Danilo, Militao, Marquinhos, Arana, Guimaraes, Gomez, Rafinha, Paqueta, Rodrigo and Andrique.