As Argentina picked up a second Copa America title in succession, the South American football giants of Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay could only stand by and watch.
It’s hard for fans to take when your nation has come close to glory, only to see your rivals celebrating wildly and Uruguay, in particular, must feel it is a case of “what may have been: losing narrowly in the semi-final.
La Celeste were one of our SBOTOP picks in the group of potential winners, though the pre-tournament Copa America 2024 betting odds placed Marcelo Bielsa’s side behind both Argentina and Brazil, so a semi-final exit was par for the course I guess. Uruguay picked up third place after beating Canada on penalties.
Known and admired for their defencive prowess and tenacity, Uruguay had conceded just one goal in the competition while scoring nine as they prepared for their semi-final clash with eventual runners-up Colombia.
Three wins from three at the group stage with victories over the USA, Panama, and Bolivia, as the Stars and Stripes crashed out of the competition, were particularly impressive. But of all Uruguay’s Copa America 2024 results the most eye-catching has to be a penalty shootout win over Brazil in a tempestuous quarter-final at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
It was the dirtiest match of the 2024 Copa America with 41 fouls, outstripping the 37 in Chile’s 0-0 draw with Peru at the group stage. Uruguay’s Nahitan Nandez paid heavily for a crude tackle on Brazil star Rodrygo, and he received his marching orders.
But with 10 men on the pitch, this was classic Uruguay, as they battled through to take the game to penalties. Real Madrid’s midfield ace Fede Valverde has become La Celeste’s man for the big moments, and he dispatched the first penalty with coolness personified.
Uruguay’s fighting spirit was coursing through keeper Sergio Rochet’s veins too, and he saved Eder Militao’s opening attempt. When Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz hit the post, the game was up for Brazil, and when PSG star Manuel Ugarte slammed in Uruguay’s fourth penalty, he sparked wild celebrations among the hoards of Celeste fans.
This team is not just about tenacity and heart though, and the squad is dripping with quality.
Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo is a top class centre-back alongside skipper Jose Gimenez, who had his apprenticeship under the legendary Diego Godin. Napoli wing-back Mathias Olivera is a tough tackler in defence and a dynamic raider in attack while, alongside Valverde, Tottenham Hotspur’s dominant midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is a superb box-to-box player.
Up front, the veteran Luis Suarez, now at Inter Miami, makes the odd cameo while the spearhead is Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez, but the 25-year-old can be inconsistent and he had a night to forget in the semi-final.
Nunez’ Colombia nightmare
When the big night arrived, Uruguay struggled to break down Colombia, who were on a 27-match unbeaten run, but they had a huge chance to claw their way back into the game after Jefferson Lerma’s first-half header had given Los Cafeteros a lead.
When Daniel Munoz was sent off at the end of the first 45 for an elbow on Manuel Ugarte, it was Uruguay’s big chance to power. But just as they frustrated Brazil in the quarter-final, Colombia held out through a combination of stout defence, a little luck, and some wasteful Uruguay finishing.
Nunez bagged in Uruguay’s 3-1 win over Panama in their opening fixture, but he had a shocker in the match against Los Cafeteros.
In the UK, he has a reputation for wholehearted performances, powerful running, and an eye for goal, but he sometimes just misses the mark, famously hitting the woodwork four times in one game against Chelsea last season.
Nunez had a golden chance in the first half, but he curled his effort inches wide, before scuffing another big opportunity. When he fired another shot narrowly wide with the goal gaping, he could hardly believe his eyes and nor could the Celeste fans.
Bielsa rolled the dice midway through the second half, throwing on the 37-year-old Suarez, and the former Liverpool and Barcelona star came closer than Nunez had, when his effort crashed back off the post.
Uruguay had one more huge chance with two minutes left on the clock when they robbed the ball in the Colombia penalty area, but Mateus Uribe’s shot flew agonisingly wide.
Close, but simply not close enough and Uruguay’s campaign, so full of hope and promise was done.
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