By Alfredo Echenique Lugo
02 Jul 2024, 13:40 PM EDT
Group B of the 2024 Copa América was decided on Monday, leaving Uruguay as the leader with a perfect score. A win over Bolivia and victories against Panama and the United States ensured the Uruguayans a perfect score to face the quarterfinals.
Uruguay finished with an excellent scoring record, scoring 9 goals and conceding just one. This excellent performance in the group stage makes Marcelo Bielsa’s team one of the favourites to win the tournament.
Bielsa’s assistant, Pablo Quiroga, even recently commented on the objectives of the Uruguay national team. This was at the press conference that Bielsa was unable to attend after being suspended for the delay in the team’s departure from the game against Bolivia.
“Of course there are things that need to be corrected, but it is a team that is prepared and planned to take the lead,” said Quiroga.
Uruguay, already in the quarter-finals of the Copa America, is only waiting for its opponent. This will come from the last match of Group D between Brazil and Colombia.
The winner of this duel will take first place in the group and the loser will go to second place and will have to face Uruguay in the quarterfinals.
Regarding the possibility of these two rivals in the next round, Quiroga himself also gave his opinion on the matter. “We will stop to analyse in depth, when it is decided who we will face, the characteristics of the rival and try to be able to draw up a plan,” explained Bielsa’s assistant.
“They are two great rivals who are doing well. Colombia, with a great present, and Brazil as a winning team with many high-quality players,” Quiroga emphasized about Uruguay’s two possible rivals in the quarterfinals.
Uruguay wants to break the tie with Argentina in the Cup
Uruguay and Argentina are currently the teams with the most Copa América wins in history. Each has 15 continental trophies in their cabinets and this tie could be broken in this edition.
Argentina is the first team to win a Copa América in 2021 and has equalled Uruguay, which has not won a Copa América since the 2011 edition, which was held in Argentina.
Keep reading:
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· “25 games unbeaten are not achieved by chance”: Brazil coach praises Colombia’s game
· Fernando Batista could be sanctioned again and miss the quarter-finals with Venezuela