Uruguay, the Group C leader in the Copa America 2024, will face a critical match against bottom-placed Bolivia on Thursday at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The clash holds significant implications for both teams, with Bolivia desperately seeking a positive result to maintain their tournament hopes.
Bolivia’s coach, Antonio Carlos Zago, recognizes the daunting task ahead as his team prepares to face Uruguay, a team widely regarded as one of the best in the world and the top contender in South America. He acknowledges Uruguay’s strong recent performances, particularly their dominant finish to the previous year and their continued success in 2024.
Zago understands that securing points against Uruguay is crucial for Bolivia, especially after their opening 2-0 defeat to the United States in their Group C opener. Their chances of advancing to the knockout stages are now on the line, making this match a must-win situation for them.
He knows his team must elevate their game significantly to challenge Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay. “Tomorrow we are going to play against one of the best teams in the world at the moment, perhaps the best team in South America because they finished the year playing very well, and this year they are also playing well,” Zago stated at a press conference on Wednesday.
Bolivia’s last encounter with Uruguay in November resulted in a 3-0 loss in Montevideo during the South American World Cup qualifying tournament. Bolivia currently finds themselves in the second-to-last position in the qualifiers with just one victory and five defeats.
Meanwhile, Uruguay, who triumphed over Panama 3-1 in their initial Copa match, occupies second place in the qualifiers, trailing only Argentina. They also emerged victorious against Argentina in a previous match back in November.
This match promises to be an intense battle as Bolivia fights to stay alive in the Copa America, while Uruguay aims to maintain their dominance and secure another victory.
