Canada vs. Uruguay will be the battle at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte as both countries contest for third place in the competition.
Sunday’s third-place playoff matchup will be a Canada vs. Uruguay clash with two teams who will believe that they didn’t end up where they expected to in this competition. Uruguay lost 1-0 to Colombia in an ill-tempered game characterized by missed chances and after-match clashes between Uruguayan players and drunken Colombian fans, and Canada lost 2-0 to tournament favorites Argentina.
Nevertheless, there’s still enough to fight for both teams and enough motivation to end the tournament with a victory.
Blunt Los Celeste
Los Celeste were probably marginal underdogs for the first time in all their matches in the competition in their semi-final match against Colombia, and that was primarily due to losing two of the most senior members of their vaunted backline.
Another factor was that their vaunted front line picked the most inopportune time to begin firing blanks.
Despite being the better side and even with a numerical advantage at some point the inability of Darwin Nunez (especially) and Luis Suarez to put away gilt-edged chances ultimately cost them.
In defense Nahitan Nandez is returning from suspension so he should get back into the lineup immediately, veteran Gimenez will be expected to start his second consecutive game in the competition in place of injured Ronald Araujo, and Matias Vina may just be fit enough for the bench so we can expect to see Mathias Olivera at left-back.
Federico Fernandez and Manchester United target Manuel Ugarte would be expected to reprise their pivot roles in midfield.
With the possibility of suspensions hanging over him (and his teammates) in the Canada vs. Uruguay match, Darwin Nunez, if he starts, would be looking to break his three-game scoreless duck and end the competition on a high by finding the net against arguably inferior opponents.
Plucky Canada
That Canada has reached the third place play-offs in this year’s Copa America, their very first outing in the tournament is a testament to the quality of work that former Leeds Manager Jesse Marsch has done since he took over the reins in May of this year.
He has achieved that by building a team with solid defensive characteristics, Canada has conceded just 5 goals across their 5 games in the competition, and even though they’ll be missing star player Alphonso Davies through injury, unlike Uruguay Jesse has a fully fit squad to pick from.
On paper though you would expect them to be outclassed by Uruguay, especially as the only two times these teams have met both ended in clear victories for Uruguay. But having surprised everyone to even get out of the group stage and come this far, it’s safe to say they are also fully capable of pulling off an upset.
Both sides have managed just two goals between themselves in their last 6 combined matches, and also given the fact that not much attention is paid to third-place games, this may end up being a low-scoring affair.
Canada vs. Uruguay: Head to Head
The Canada vs Uruguay event has occurred only twice, aside from this playoff.
02 Feb 1986 Uruguay vs Canada 3-1 (Miami Cup)
27 Sep 2022 Canada vs Uruguay 0-2 (International Friendly)
Canada vs. Uruguay Predicted Lineups
Canada:
Crepeau; Johnston, Bombito, Cornelius, Miller; Laryea, Kone, Eustaquio, Shaffelburg; David, Larin
Uruguay:
Rochet; Nandez, Caceres, Gimenez, Olivera; Ugarte, Valverde; Pellistri, De Arrascaeta, Araujo; Nunez
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