Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Uruguay could line up for Sunday’s Copa America third-place playoff against Canada.
Uruguay could be without as many as five players for Sunday’s Copa America third-place playoff against Canada at the Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina.
Marcelo Bielsa‘s side suffered a slender 1-0 defeat to 10-man Colombia in the semi-finals on Wednesday, a game which centre-back Ronald Araujo missed due to a muscle injury.
The Barcelona man will not recover in time to face Canada, while Rodrigo Bentancur has emerged as a doubt after he received a blow to his right leg following a collision with teammate Mathias Olivera against Colombia, forcing the teary midfielder to come off midway through the first half.
Both Guillermo Varela and Nicolas de la Cruz are ruled out through suspension, while Darwin Nunez could also be facing a ban, according to multiple reports, after he was seen climbing into the stands and brawling with supporters as an unsavoury altercation broke out after the defeat to Colombia.
The potential absence of Nunez could see Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer Luis Suarez (68 goals) handed a start as the central striker, with support provided in attack by Facundo Pellistri and Maximiliano Araujo.
Giorgian de Arrascaeta could replace Bentancur in midfield, while Nahitan Nandez is available to return at right-back after serving a suspension in the semi-finals, with Matias Vina also in line for a recall at left-back.
Uruguay possible starting lineup: Rochet; Nandez, Gimenez, Olivera, Vina; Valverde, Ugarte; Pellistri, De Arrascaeta, M. Araujo; Nunez
> Click here to see how Canada could line up for this contest
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