Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay are the one crew able to stopping Argentina from defending their Copa America crown, so says Sergio Aguero.
First, although, Uruguay must overcome nine-time Copa America champions Brazil.
Uruguay, who topped Group C with 9 factors from their three video games, face the Selecao in Las Vegas on Saturday. They scored 9 instances throughout these three group contests, which is three objectives greater than another crew within the competitors.
Brazil completed second in Group D, behind Colombia, drawing two and successful one in all their matches. Not securing prime spot means they now have to beat an enormous quarter-final check.
USA 0-1 Uruguay
Uruguay undergo on the prime of Group C, and the USA crash out after their goalkeeper tried extra passes than each one in all his midfield or ahead teammates on this match.#CopaAmérica #USAURU pic.twitter.com/nCUZLSM4wJ
— Opta Analyst US (@OptaAnalystUS) July 2, 2024
Former Argentina striker Aguero feels that Uruguay, not Brazil, are the favourites to problem the reigning champions, who scraped previous Ecuador on penalties to achieve the final 4.
In an interview with Stake.com, Aguero stated: “I feel Uruguay have lots to present now with Bielsa. They need to go far within the event.
“I feel Argentina are their very own greatest risk, and we shouldn’t be overconfident. However Uruguay are the one crew that might beat us, as a result of Bielsa is aware of Lionel Scaloni very effectively.
“Let’s not overlook that Uruguay is the one crew that has beat us since changing into world champions.”
In addition to beating Argentina in World Cup qualifying, Uruguay have additionally defeated Brazil.
And their achievement in successful 100% of the out there factors within the group stage was the primary time that they had carried out that within the Copa since 1942, once they gained all six of their matches and had been topped champions.
In an additional increase to Bielsa’s crew, Brazil’s talisman Vinicius Junior will miss the sport as a consequence of suspension.
“Vini is a prime participant who can win video games for us,” Brazil defender Danilo stated.
“However we now have different gamers with numerous high quality and potential, and let’s attempt to make up for Vini’s absence.”
Actual Madrid ahead Vinicius is Brazil’s main scorer on the event, with each of his objectives having come within the 4-1 win over Paraguay on Matchday 2.
Brazil 1-1 Colombia
Brazil weren’t capable of create a lot from open play, and so they get Uruguay within the quarters whereas Group D winners Colombia have Panama after extending their unbeaten run to 26.
Will we get a rematch of this sport within the semis?#BRACOL #CopaAmérica pic.twitter.com/Z7xuUYfQRY
— Opta Analyst US (@OptaAnalystUS) July 3, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Uruguay – Sergio Rochet
Goalkeeper Rochet has stored a clear sheet in six of the final seven matches he has performed for Uruguay throughout all competitions.
The one crew that managed to attain in opposition to him throughout this era was Panama, in Uruguay’s 3-1 victory within the group stage.
Brazil – Raphinha
Raphinha scored Brazil’s objective of their 1-1 draw with Colombia final day trip, and with Vinicius out of motion, the onus will likely be on the Barcelona man to supply the spark in assault.
In opposition to Colombia, he tried six dribbles, finishing three of them, with each figures being crew highs. His direct free-kick objective was the primary scored by a Brazil participant since 2019.
MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW (IN 90 MINUTES)
We’ve got already had one penalty shootout within the Copa America quarters, and Opta’s mannequin is suggesting we may have one other, with the supercomputer discovering it arduous to separate these sides.
Brazil and Uruguay are two of the three groups who haven’t fallen behind at any level of the event, alongside Argentina, so it might not come as a shock to see the system predicting a good contest.
Uruguay have misplaced solely one in all their 10 quarter-final matches on the Copa America (W4 D5), since this spherical was first performed in 1993. Half of those video games have been determined by penalty shootouts, with Uruguay successful two of these.
This would be the first knockout assembly between these nations on the Copa America for the reason that 2007 semi-finals, when Brazil gained on penalties en path to changing into champions.
Knocking out Brazil isn’t any imply feat. They’ve by no means misplaced a knockout match in opposition to Uruguay within the Copa America, with two wins and three attracts (W2 L1 of the penalty shootouts).
And, in a streak that’s ongoing since 2011, Brazil haven’t conceded a couple of objective in any of their final 24 Copa matches.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Uruguay – 35.6%
Brazil – 37.4%
Draw – 27%
