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As the tournament gets into its full swing we have one of the teams that most are eagerly awaiting to watch with Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay taking on Central Americans Panama.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Monday 24th June, 2024 - UK – 2:00am & Sunday 23rd June, 2024 - US EST – 9:00pm / US PST – 6:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – Fox Sports and TUDN
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – Univision, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue, ViX
URUGUAY PREVIEW: THE BIELSA REVOLUTION
Following their humiliating group stage exit at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Uruguay appointed former Argentina and Chile boss Marcelo Bielsa. The famous tactician has, once again, revitalised a side and has them playing some extremely impressive and entertaining football.
The two-time world champions have defeated both Argentina and Brazil in their opening six matches of CONMEBOL qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and most recently hammered Mexico by four goals to nil.
PANAMA PREVIEW: BEING AS STUBBORN AS POSSIBLE
Panama, alongside Bolivia, have a shout to be the weakest side in this year’s Copa America. The 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers come into this opener on the back of losing their final warm-up match by a goal to nil against Paraguay.
The Panamanians had defeated Guyana and Montserrat in FIFA World Cup qualifiers earlier this month but conceding a goal to Montserrat in a 3-1 win is a real sign of a weak side and they will be fortunate to get a point in this competition.
URUGUAY TEAM NEWS: THE BIELSA STYLE
Marcelo Bielsa’s 4-2-3-1 system is nominal with players taking on very specific hybrid roles. For example, in possession, it is expected to essentially be a 4-0-6 with Rodrigo Bentancur and Fede Valverde regularly joining in the attack.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Sergio Rochet; Nahitan Nandez, Jose Maria Gimenez, Ronald Araujo, Mathias Olivera; Fede Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur; Facundo Pellistri, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Brian Rodriguez; Darwin Nunez
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
PANAMA TEAM NEWS: REPLACING THE CAPTAIN
Panama were dealt a big blow before the tournament with captain and key defensive midfielder Anibal Godoy having to withdraw from the squad due to an injury. Adalberto Carrasquilla is expected to be his replacement in the starting eleven.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Luis Meija; Ivan Anderson, Jose Cordoba, Roderick Miller; Michael Murillo, Martinez, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Eric Davis; Yoel Barcenas, Ismael Diaz; Jose Fajardo
UNAVAILABLE: Anibal Godoy (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
URUGUAY VS PANAMA PREDICTION
There is a chance this one is a bit of a walkover. The intensity and precision in which Uruguay have begun to play their football with a completely reinvigorated Facundo Pellistri supporting Darwin Nunez and the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and Fede Valverde pushing on from deep far too much for a Panama side that struggled through recent qualifiers against minnows of North America. A comfortable Uruguay win is to be expected for their opener.
URUGUAY VS PANAMA TIP: URUGUAY TO WIN -1 HANDICAP