Uruguay vs Colombia Preview & Prediction | 2024 Copa America | Semi-Final
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This second Copa America semi-final has the potential to be an absolute thriller as two of the best teams in the tournament take on each other for a place in the final at the weekend, which will take place at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Thursday 11th July, 2024 - UK – 1:00am / Wednesday 10th 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
URUGUAY PREVIEW: THE ENERGETIC URUGUAYANS
Uruguay have been majorly improved since the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa, as they showed with 2-0 victories over both Argentina and Brazil at the start of CONMEBOL qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup last autumn.
The two-time world champions were impressive in the groups with three wins from three, scoring nine goals and conceding just one against the United States, Panama and Bolivia before then defeating a poor Brazilian side on penalties in the quarter-finals.
COLOMBIA PREVIEW: THE ELECTRIC COLOMBIANS
Since losing to Argentina in CONMEBOL qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup all the way back in February 2022, Colombia have gone on a 27-match unbeaten run of form that means they head into the semi-finals of the 2024 Copa America as one of the best teams in international football.
Under the management of Nestor Lorenzo, they have enjoyed an extremely impressive campaign and that was epitomised in their quarter-final annihilation of Panama the other day in which Jhon Cordoba, James Rodriguez, Luis Diaz, Richard Rios and Miguel Borja helped them run riot in a 5-0 win.
URUGUAY TEAM NEWS: DEFENSIVE ISSUES
Uruguay and Marcelo Bielsa have a couple of issues to deal with. Nahitan Nandez’ straight red card for a poor tackle on Rodrygo means that the versatile former Cagliari man will have to be replaced by Guillermo Varela at right-back, whilst the experienced Jose Maria Gimenez will likely come in for Barcelona defender Ronaldo Araujo, who appears to have sustained what is a serious leg injury.
The Uruguayans have surprisingly left out some experienced players throughout the tournament, such as the aforementioned Jose Maria Gimenez, whilst Fede Valverde and Manuel Ugarte have been preferred to Rodrigo Bentancur in deeper midfield roles and then either Nicolas de la Cruz or Giorgian de Arrascaeta have kept out the Tottenham Hotspur man further forward.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Sergio Rochet; Guillermo Varela, Jose Maria Gimenez, Mathias Olivera, Matias Vina; Fede Valverde, Manuel Ugarte; Facundo Pellistri, Nicolas de la Cruz, Maxi Araujo; Darwin Nunez
UNAVAILABLE: Ronald Araujo (Injured), Nahitan Nandez (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE:
COLOMBIA TEAM NEWS: JEFFERSON LERMA TO RETURN
Unlike Uruguay, the Colombians actually have a stronger set of players to choose from ahead of their semi-final showdown. After missing out on the quarter-final with Panama through suspension, Crystal Palace midfielder Jefferson Lerma has returned from the one-match ban and is expected to replace the experienced Mateus Uribe in midfield.
The rest of the team pretty much picks itself with Nestor Lorenzo under no pressure, both in terms of players’ fitness or any tactical reasons, to make any changes. Their brilliant front four of Jhon Arias, James Rodriguez, Luis Diaz and Jhon Cordoba will fancy their chances against a weakened opposition back-line.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Camilo Vargas; Daniel Munoz, Davinson Sanchez, Carlos Cuesta, Johan Mojica; Richard Rios, Jefferson Lerma; Jhon Arias, James Rodriguez, Luis Diaz; Jhon Cordoba
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
URUGUAY VS COLOMBIA PREDICTION
Both of these sides play proactive and progressive styles of football that are designed to entertain and thrill spectators but they have both gone about in extremely efficient and effective ways. The one point of difference ahead of this final four clash would be those aforementioned defensive issues for Uruguay and especially how Guillermo Varela and Jose Maria Gimenez, both more reactive players, limit the way in which Uruguay can play as a whole. Colombia, with the form they are in and have even shown just in this tournament, will really fancy their chances of exploiting that.
URUGUAY VS COLOMBIA TIP: COLOMBIA TO WIN
