Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay made a winning start at the 2024 Copa America with a convincing victory over Panama and will seek to double their Group C tally by accounting for Bolivia in New Jersey.
La Celeste are considered amongst the leading contenders for Copa America glory and they won’t want any slip-ups here, with hosts the United States a potentially dangerous opponent in their concluding game of the group phase.
Bolivia meanwhile were hit with an early raid by the US in their first outing, trailing inside three minutes to a cracking strike from Christian Pulisic and never really threatening to get back in the contest.
They meet at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey at 02:00 BST on Friday June 28th.
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Bielsa seeks more from his side
Argentine-born Bielsa has the chance to dethrone his native country – the current Copa and World Cup holders – at this tournament but he knows more will be required from his troops to pull that feat off.
Jose Fajardo and Jose Rodriguez squandered golden opportunities for Panama in Miami in the opener before Darwin Nunez’s 85th-minute goal made the win safe and La Celeste added the gloss in stoppage time via Matias Vina.
“My expectation is that each match will increasingly help us to improve on our level. Uruguay has players of a very good level and we need to see if I can build with those players,” said 68-year-old Bielsa post-game.
Uruguay traditionally fare well against the Bolivians, winning 32 times in 47 previous meetings, including five of the last six.
Climbing mountains no help to Bolivia
Antonio Carlos Zago’s side are all too familiar with a tough challenge and things haven’t gotten any easier for La Verde since the tournament got going.
Pulisic’s early strike for USMNT in Texas means five of their last eight goals conceded have occurred within the first half-hour of games.
The Bolivians have managed just one victory in their previous 31 fixtures at this tournament, and their losing sequence at the Copa America stands at 13.
A leaky defence has shipped eight goals in three games of late and they haven’t beaten Uruguay at the Copa America in 24 years.
Uruguay vs Bolivia – Team News
Ronald Araujo was replaced at half-time in the win over Panama by Jose Gimenez, though the Barcelona defender is likely to be available here, having confirmed dehydration was his issue in that Miami encounter.
Darwin Nunez warmed up for the Copa America with a hat-trick against Mexico and the 25-year-old Liverpool forward took that scoring form into the tournament proper. Maximiliano Araujo was impressive against Panama on the left wing, while veteran Luis Suarez was an unused sub.
Diego Medina and Gabriel Villamil took the starting jerseys of Hector Cuellar and Robson Tome for Bolivia in the opening game against the US.
They know defeat here, allied to a US win against Panama, will mean elimination. Jesus Sagredo, Luis Haquin and Leonel Justiniano all collected yellow cards in the opener and must tread carefully now.
Uruguay vs Bolivia predicted line-ups
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