Colombian duo aim for Copa America final

Match previews

10 Jul 2024

Colombia are hoping to reach the final of the Copa America this evening as they take on Uruguay – check out the details of Jefferson Lerma and Daniel Muñoz’ next opponents below…

Uruguay

World ranking: 14
Best performance: Winners (x15)
Manager: Marcelo Bielsa

Uruguay are looking for a first Copa America title since 2011, when their last golden generation inspired by Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani had just inspired the country to a third place finish at the 2010 World Cup.

La Celeste topped a group containing much-favoured hosts United States, and continued to make waves by dumping Brazil out in the quarter-finals on penalties.

Much of their progress has been inspired by Marcelo Bielsa, who – when players buy into his progressive ideas – has form for creating teams that play remarkable football.

His philosophical outpourings have been a regular feature of press conferences throughout his career, and his latest was no different.

“I am sure that football is in a process of decline, that is to say that more and more people are watching football, but it is becoming less and less attractive because what made it game the best game in the world is not there,” he opined.

“As time passes, as fewer and fewer footballers are worth watching and as the game produced is less and less enjoyable, this artificial increase in the number of spectators will be interrupted.

"Football is not five minutes of action, it is much more than that. It is a cultural expression, a form of identification. Tell an Uruguayan to watch the highlights of the Celeste… There will be more and more, but it has nothing to do with the essence that allowed a population to fall in love with the most identifying sign significant that a people possess.

"What we should all do is ignore this scenario that is presented to us where controversy, discussion, accusation, the determination of responsibility, become an obsession that deteriorates the climate in which football must be played."

He can give credence to his philosophy by lifting the title this weekend.

Manager

Marcelo Bielsa

Known best to English fans for his spell at Leeds United, where he remains wildly popular, Bielsa is a bona fide legend of the game whose managerial career began in Argentina, where he had worked as a scout. He rose to manage the national side for six years, before moving to Europe and taking charge of Athletic Club, Marseille and more.

Ones to watch

Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez is frustrating and exhilarating in equal measure, and will be crucial to Uruguay’s chances of lifting the title.

In midfield, Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte scored the decisive penalty to knock Brazil out in the quarter-final, while Rodrigo Bentancur is a mainstay.

Match details

Thursday, 11th July
01:00 BST
Bank of America Stadium, Carolina

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