15-time Copa America champions Uruguay will be aiming to reclaim the crown this summer. Luis Suarez‘s side will be the highlight of the competition and the veteran is expected to be at his sharpest when the tournament commences on June 20. He was the Player of the Tournament in the 2011 edition which was won by the Uruguay national football team.
Led by former Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa, the La Celeste have one of the most stacked squads on paper. Uruguay is expected come out and put on a strong case by claiming their first Copa America crown in 13 years.
On that note, let’s take a look at their current squad and possible lineup.
Predicted lineup of Uruguay National Football Team playing in Copa America 2024
Uruguay has boasted some of the sport’s top talents among their ranks for the last decade or so. The 15-time winner have transformed under the management of Marcelo Bielsa who has once again brought his exciting brand of football to the international scene
In goal, we have Sergio Rochet who will return as the number 1 goalkeeper for Uruguay this summer. He played a starring role for Uruguay in the 2022 World Cup. Rochet has replaced long-time Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera as La Celeste begins a new era in between the sticks.
In defence, we have Matías Viña and Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo who will take up the central starting berths, while Jose Maria Gimenez and Sebastián Cáceres will occupy the full-back positions. Gimenez has been out with a long-term knee injury but is now back to perform his defensive duties for the nation. The squad will also have Napoli defender Mathías Olivera as backup.
In midfield, the Uruguay National Football Team consists of many stars who ply their trade in some of the elite clubs in Europe. Rodrigo Bentancur and Manuel Ugarte are solid options for the sitting role, while Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde will play in the attacking role.
Liverpool‘s Darwin Nunez and former Reds striker Luis Suarez will lead the attack, while Facundo Pellistri and Brian Rodríguez are two solid options as backup.
Uruguay Predicted Lineup: Rochet; Jimenez, Araujo, Vina, Caceres; Ugarte: Bentancur, Valverde; Arrascaeta; Nunez, Suarez.
Also Read: Argentina Squad for Copa America 2024: Who’s in and Who’s out, Key Players and Predicted Line-Up
Team Strengths
One of the top-seeded teams in the world, the Uruguay National Football Team are the favorites to clinch the Copa America crown in the United States this summer. Let’s take a look at some of their strengths and weaknesses.
- World Class Stars – Uruguay are the most celebrated team in Copa America and has always had some of the best strikers in the squad that can turn a game on its head. Their captain, Luis Suarez will make his fifth Copa America tournament appearance. They also have the likes of Premier League stars Darwin Nunez and Rodrigo Bentancur along with two-time Champions League winner Federico Valverde.
- Winning Mentality – Uruguay have won the tournament 15 times in the past and have always produced some of the hard-working players in South America. No game is lost until the final whistle for Le Celeste.
- Midfield – Due to the star-studded midfielder in the current setup, Uruguay has some talented young players who can adapt to different roles. This could cause problems for the opposition teams.
Weaknesses
- Goalkeeping – It has been widely known that Uruguay has always been reliant on Fernando Muslera who has participated in the past four World Cups. But he’s now been replaced by Sergio Rochet who piped him for the No.1 job in the 2022 World Cup.
- Defence – As seen in the past, Uruguay had one of the best defenses on the international stage but it went downhill since Diego Godin decided to retire from international football.
- Bielsa’s tactics – The manager’s tactics could leave the side vulnerable also Marcelo Bielsa requires his defenders to play out of pressure.
Uruguay Copa America 2024 Key Players to Watch Out For
- Luis Suarez – The Uruguay captain and nation’s all-time leading goalscorer will once again be at the forefront of the national team in what could be the last Copa America of his illustrious goalscoring career. The 37-year-old striker who plays for Inter Miami will feature in his fifth Copa America.
- Federico Valverde – The versatile midfielder endured another stellar campaign with Real Madrid winning both Champions League and La Liga trophies. Last season, Valverde became the Uruguayan player with the most Champions League semi-final appearances (7). He will hone the vacant No.8 jersey next season for Los Blancos after Toni Kroos announced his departure.
- Darwin Nunez – The Liverpool striker will have the opportunity to prove his mettle on the international stage. Nunez scored a sensational hattrick in Uruguay’s 4-0 win over Mexico, his first career hattrick for his nation. Since Bielsa took over the managerial role last summer, Nunez has bagged eight goals and two assists in seven games.
Conclusion
While the Uruguay National Football Team is the joint-most successful team in Copa America, the South America will be eyeing their 16th trophy this summer
Also Read: Brazil squad for Copa America 2024: Who’s in and Who’s out, Key Players and Predicted Lineup