Tomorrow, July 6, Brazil will take on Uruguay for the biggest showdown in this year’s Copa América so far.
The match, which will be valid for the Copa América 2024 quarterfinal, will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and is set to be one of the biggest encounters in the tournament’s recent history.
The Battle of Las Vegas has everything to be a great game to watch as both teams play fast-paced attacking soccer, and the lineups for both teams are filled with stars and household names.
Uruguay, coached by Bielsa, is likely to go into the match with a 4-2-3-1 formation, featuring Darwin Núñez as the sole striker and a midfield consisting of Facundo Pellistri, Nicolás de la Cruz, Cristian Olivera, Federico Valverde, and Manuel Ugarte.
The Uruguayan defense will likely include Nahitan Nández and Matías Viña on the flanks and Mathías Olivera and Ronald Araújo as center backs, with Sergio Rochet in goal.
Their opponents, Brazil, are likely to run a 4-2-3-1 formation with Endrick expected to finally be a starter since Vinícius Jr. won’t be available for the match due to a suspension.
After qualifying in second place in Group D, Brazil goes into the quarterfinals having something to prove, as many pundits and fans alike are not satisfied with the recent performances from the five-time World Cup winners.
The experienced coach Dorival will most likely start with Alisson in goal and Marquinhos and Éder Militão as center backs. At left back, Dorival will most probably have Wendell, while the right defensive flank is expected to be occupied by Danilo.
In front of them, João Gomes and Bruno Guimarães are the likely candidates to be the starting CDMs, while Lucas Paquetá will likely play the role of a number 10.
To the left of Paquetá, the most likely option to be chosen by Dorival is Rodrygo, while on the right it’s Barcelona star Raphinha.
As mentioned earlier, with the absence of Vinícius Jr, it’s likely that Endrick will start up top.
The “Seleção Canarinho,” as Brazil is commonly referred to, will be facing an uphill battle as Uruguay, who have been having a fantastic Copa América, are the favorites going into the game.
With an impressive unbeaten run, nine goals scored, and only one conceded, Uruguay at the moment is the team to beat, and Brazil which struggled to beat Costa Rica is sure to feel the pressure, as they aren’t used to going into games as the underdogs.
Another reason to believe Uruguay are the favorites is their last encounter, which was on October 17 of last year.
The game ended with Uruguay beating a very different Brazil 2-0, who at the time had Neymar, Vinícius Jr., Gabriel Jesus, and Casemiro in their lineup.
Although the names on Brazil’s starting eleven sheet are completely different, that doesn’t necessarily mean the team has improved, since I believe everyone can agree that players such as Neymar and Vinícius Jr. would be a big plus for Brazil as they head into the match against Uruguay.
However you put it, one thing is clear: we are set for a very enthralling match where the stakes are high and the potential for glory is even higher.
For Brazil, the match will be a chance to reconcile with their fans, an opportunity to show the world that the creators of the “joga bonito” still have it in them.
For Uruguay, it’s a chance to reaffirm the dominance they have displayed in the tournament so far. It’s their opportunity to show the world that their new generation of players is competent and able to achieve great things.
The winner of tomorrow’s match will take on the winner of Panama vs. Colombia in the semifinals, another game that is sure to be a spectacle.
So grab your drinks and get comfy on your couch because tomorrow at 6:00 PM we will get to watch what is sure to be the biggest game in this year’s Copa América so far.
With seven World Cups on the field, five being Brazil’s and two being Uruguay’s, the game will have a weight that will likely only be matched by the tournament’s final, which will be played on the 14th.
