Marcelo Bielsa, the head coach of Uruguay, is preparing for a crucial clash against Colombia in the South American World Cup qualifiers, which will take place on October 15, 2024, in Montevideo. This match comes at a pivotal moment for Uruguay, as the team has just recovered players who were formerly suspended due to an altercation involving fans during the Copa América semi-final in Charlotte last July.
With Uruguay poised to reclaim the second position in the qualification standings, they are directly up against Colombia, coached by Argentine Néstor Lorenzo. Colombia has been performing exceptionally well in this qualification cycle, highlighted by a notable victory over Argentina, the current world and continental champions, and a recent 4-0 win against Chile.
As the final double-header of the year kicks off, Argentina leads the standings with 22 points, followed by Colombia at 19. Both Uruguay and Brazil are in close pursuit with 16 points each.
Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Betancur, one of the last players to complete his suspension, expressed the significance of the upcoming match, stating he views it as “an incredibly important game.” Betancur has returned just in time for Bielsa, although they will be missing two essential midfielders, Nicolás de la Cruz and Giorgian de Arrascaeta, due to injuries, along with defender Matías Viña.
Bielsa has maintained a consistent selection in his squad, though he acknowledged the limited options available, omitting some players currently in good form.
Néstor Lorenzo, addressing the media, downplayed the idea of a grudge match, emphasizing that the encounter isn’t fueled by past rivalries but rather a keen competition and mutual respect between the players, some of whom are teammates at club level, like the Liverpool duo Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez. Notably, Colombia has not secured a qualifying win at Uruguay’s Centenario Stadium in 51 years.
Colombia’s team will see some new faces like Carlos Cuesta, Rafael Santos Borré, and Daniel Muñoz as they make their way to Montevideo. Unfortunately, they will be without key players such as Jefferson Lerma and Jhon Córdoba, as well as Juan David Cabal, who suffered a late injury.
Looking ahead, both teams will need to remain focused in their next matches, as Uruguay will travel to Salvador to face Brazil and Colombia will host Ecuador in Barranquilla in the following week.
This match presents a fantastic opportunity for Uruguay to showcase their determination in the qualifiers and make strides toward securing their spot in the 2026 World Cup. Fans can look forward to an exciting game filled with skill and strategy as both teams give their all for victory.