A spot in the 2024 Copa America final will be on the line when Uruguay and Brazil clash at the Allegiant Stadium this weekend.
The quarter-finals of Copa America 2024 have kicked off this week, with Argentina scraping through to the semi-finals by beating Ecuador on penalties. The next fixture will feature Venezuela and Canada before the action rounds up with a double-header on the weekend. The last match of the latest round will see Uruguay and Brazil lock horns at the Allegiant Stadium.
Uruguay cruised through the group stage of Copa America 2024, comfortably winning all three games to top their group. La Celeste conceded only one goal while finding the back of the net nine times, with the next-best teams managing three fewer strikes. So, Marcelo Bielsa is wielding the magic wand with Uruguay.
As for Brazil, they would have hoped to avoid a big team until the penultimate stage. However, they managed only one win in three outings in the group stage, playing out stalemates against Costa Rica and Colombia to finish behind the latter by two points. That set up the quarter-final date with Uruguay.
Uruguay beat Brazil 2-0 in the most recent clash featuring the two South American behemoths, with Darwin Nunez and Nicolas de la Cruz finding the back of the net. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Uruguay
Marcelo Bielsa has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Brazil this weekend, Uruguay’s head coach might be without one player due to a fitness concern.
Bielsa has been sweating over the fitness of Maximiliano Araujo, who went off with a neck brace after a nasty clash in Uruguay’s game against the USA. The 24-year-old will unlikely recover in time to take on Brazil, with Cristian Olivera likely replacing him.
Sergio Rochet will take his usual spot between the sticks, with Uruguay lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Brazil. The backline should feature Nahitan Nandez, Ronald Araujo, Mathias Olivera, and Matias Vina.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Manuel Ugarte and Federico Valverde in the double pivot. The duo will aim to keep things tight in the middle of the park and connect the defence with the attack. Finally, Darwin Nunez will spearhead the Uruguayan attack, with Facundo Pellistri, Nicolas de la Cruz, and Cristian Olivera joining him in the offensive quartet.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Rochet; Nandez, Ronald Araujo, Mathias Olivera, Vina; Ugarte, Valverde; Pellistri, de la Cruz, Cristian Olivera; Nunez
Brazil
Like his counterpart in the Uruguayan dugout, Dorival Junior has a new issue to deal with ahead of the trip to the Allegiant Stadium. Brazil’s head coach will be without one player due to suspension.
Vinicius Junior will be unavailable to take on Uruguay after picking up his second booking of the 2024 Copa America. The yellow card has left him on the sidelines for the crunch Copa America quarter-final against La Celeste.
Vinicius Junior’s absence means Endrick might get an opportunity to impress. The teenage sensation will join Rodrygo, Lucas Paqueta, and Raphinha in the final third. So, Gabriel Martinelli, Savinho, and Pepe will be options on the bench.
As for the midfield unit, Joao Gomes should again pair up with Bruno Guimaraes in the double pivot. The backline should feature Danilo, Eder Militao, Marquinhos, and Wendell. Finally, there is no looking past Alisson Becker between the sticks for Brazil.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Danilo, Militao, Marquinhos, Wendell; Guimaraes, Gomes; Raphinha, Paqueta, Rodrygo; Endrick
Key Stats
- Uruguay and Brazil have previously locked horns 79 times, with the Selecao having a superior head-to-head record with 38 wins (D20 L21).
- The most recent clash featuring Uruguay and Brazil saw La Celeste end a 12-match winless run to clinch a 2-0 victory in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.
- Uruguay and Brazil have not faced achieved in a knockout game in the Copa America for nearly 14 years, with their previous such game in 2007 ending in a victory for Brazil.
- Uruguay have lost only one of their last ten Copa America quarter-final matches, with half of those games going to penalty shootouts.
- Uruguay and Brazil are two of only three teams alongside Argentina that are yet to fall behind in a game in the 2024 Copa America.
Player to Watch
Endrick
Vinicius Junior’s absence is a big blow to Brazil’s prospects, with the Real Madrid attacker being a talismanic attacker for the Selecao. His suspension means others must step up, placing the onus on players like Rodrygo, Raphinha, and Savinho. However, we have picked Endrick for this section.
The young attacking sensation has already made his mark for his national side by producing the goods in the final third. However, the teenage prospect will take the field in a pressure cooker situation for the first time for the Selecao and will face the heat. How well he fares this weekend will go a long way in determining the result.
Prediction
Uruguay 1-1 Brazil (Brazil to progress on penalties)
Vinicius Junior’s absence can go one of two ways for Brazil. They can either play more freely or crumble under the pressure and fail to produce the goods in the final third. In addition, the Selecao will be under pressure to neutralise a fluid Uruguayan attack at the Allegiant Stadium.
However, Brazil’s defence has been solid thus far and will unlikely concede many openings. The same holds true for Uruguay, and we might see a midfield battle for large parts of the 2023/24 campaign. Expect the game to go down the wire before ending in a 1-1 draw. Penalty shootouts will beckon before Dorival Junior’s men eke out a victory by the narrowest of margins.