Canada vs Uruguay Preview & Prediction | 2024 Copa America | Third Place Playoff
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Both of these sides will want to salvage some pride from what has been an impressive tournament for both countries and, whilst a third place playoff is not to everyone’s liking, there could be some valuable experiences still to be had in this one.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 14th July, 2024 - UK – 1:00am / Saturday 13th July, 2024 - US ET – 8:00pm / US PT – 5:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – Fox Sports & TUDN
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue & ViX
CANADA PREVIEW: A REAL MARKER
Canada endured the unfortunate task of having to face the defending South American and world champions Argentina in the opening match as well as in their semi-final and they fell short by two goals to nil on both occasions.
However, in the early months of Jesse Marsch’s reign, reaching the final four of a Copa America is a genuinely excellent achievement for the Canadians and will be marked down as an excellent template ahead of co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup in just two years’ time.
URUGUAY PREVIEW: CONTINUING THEIR IMPROVEMENT
Similarly to the Canadians, Uruguay are also still sort of in the early stages of a new coach with Marcelo Bielsa being appointed last year and the Uruguayans have also performed well, as they showed in the early stages of CONMEBOL qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup last autumn.
At this tournament, Uruguay won all three of their group matches and scored nine goals in the process before then defeating Brazil on penalties in the quarter-finals. Ugly scenes after the game marred Uruguay’s 1-0 loss to ten-man Colombia in the semis so there will be a desire to restore some feel good factor.
CANADA TEAM NEWS: FULL STRENGTH CANADIANS
‘Full strength’ is perhaps not the correct term because Canada remain without Internazionale attacker Tajon Buchanan, who has now undergone surgery having fractured his tibia earlier on in this tournament so Jacob Shaffelburg is expected to remain on the left-hand side of midfield.
Jesse Marsch’s system tends to be flexible between a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-4-2, as it was at Leeds United and Red Bull Salzburg, so Jonathan David is a nominal striker that dips into midfield when it almost becomes a 4-1-4-1 shape as Canada seek to attack in a gung-ho nature.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Crepeau; Johnston, Moise Bombito, Miller, Davies; Laryea, Osorio, Eustaquio, Shaffelburg; David, Larin
UNAVAILABLE: Buchanan (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
URUGUAY TEAM NEWS: PLENTY OF ABSENTEES
The brawl that occurred between Uruguay players and Colombia supporters in the stands after the semi-final is likely to lead to suspensions and there is talk that Darwin Nunez will be banned, which could mean a return to the starting eleven for their all-time top goalscorer Luis Suarez.
Ronald Araujo suffered a serious leg injury in the quarter-final against Brazil, whilst Rodrigo Bentancur, who has not been a starter in this tournament, came off injured against Colombia. Guillermo Varela replaced the suspended Nahitan Nandez but now Nahitan Nandez is expected to replace the suspended Guillermo Varela.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Sergio Rochet; Nahitan Nandez, Jose Maria Gimenez, Mathias Olivera, Matias Vina; Fede Valverde, Manuel Ugarte; Facundo Pellistri, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Maxi Araujo; Luis Suarez
UNAVAILABLE: Ronald Araujo (Injured), Guillermo Varela (Suspended), Nicolas de la Cruz (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE: Rodrigo Bentancur (Injured), Darwin Nunez (Suspended)
CANADA VS URUGUAY PREDICTION
We have the quirk of two recent ex-Leeds managers battling it out to get a medal and put down a marker of the progress their respective national sides have made since their respective appointments. What both managers have in common is an extreme intensity to the way in which they both play, albeit perhaps with different levels of success and sophistication. An attacking intensity in a game that lacks any real jeopardy could mean we are set up for quite an entertaining clash for the neutral, though.
CANADA VS URUGUAY TIP: OVER 2.5 GOALS
