Marcelo Bielsa called up seven forwards for the Copa América. The second top scorer of the Uruguayan team with 58 goals does not appear among the seven best Uruguayan forwards today: Edinson Cavani. On the other hand, there are Luis Suárez, Darwin Núñez, Cristian Olivera, Maximiliano Araujo, Brian Rodríguez, Brian Ocampo and Facundo Pellistri, some more extreme than area forwards. In the press conference prior to Uruguay’s debut in the continental competition, the Argentine coach spoke about expectations, preparation, the rival and proper names, those who make up the squad and those who do not.
On May 30, Edinson announced through his social networks that he was retiring from the Uruguayan national team. He did it days before Bielsa confirmed, by making the 26 summoned to play the tournament in the United States official, that he was not going to be part of his era. It is unavoidable to highlight that Cavani seemed not to be part of Bielsa’s project in Uruguay, given that he was not considered in any of the calls since the Rosario coach took over at Celeste. Even the last official participation of the Boca footballer was in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the team led by Diego Alonso was eliminated in the group stage.
Cavani still felt the need to express his absence. “My dear celeste: I just want to thank you for every lesson you made me experience in your process. I don’t want to extend. Today there are few words but deep feelings. Thanks to each of the people who were part of this path for so many years. I was and will always be blessed to have worn this shirt to represent what I love most in the world, my country. They were undoubtedly many precious years, I would have a thousand things to say, tell and remember, but Today I want to dedicate myself to this new stage of my career and give everything where I have to be. Today I decide to take a step aside, but I will always follow them with a beating heart, like when I had to go out on the field with this beautiful shirt,” he had announced on his social networks.
Bielsa, before the team’s debut, was asked at a press conference about Cavani’s situation. “It is a personal decision of a Uruguayan soccer idol and these types of positions are not to analyze but to respect. He decides to give a focus to his career and simply respect individual, personal issues,” said the coach.
At the same time, he also referred to the summons of Luis Suárez, who was interpreted as not being part of his plans due to the delayed call-up of the Inter Miami forward. “He was summoned according to the rules. He was not called up late, he stopped competing and the next day he was called up, as we usually do. His form is very good.” He then referred to the combination of renowned players with young Uruguayan soccer prospects. “Uruguay has a solid base, of experience, of a suitable age to support the team and young people are being added who are, most of them, in a position to make a space each in their position with respect to those who play more frequently . Competitions like these are tests that confirm or not the place that each player deserves within the universe of players eligible to represent Uruguay,” said Bielsa.
In addition, he analyzed the rival, Panama, with whom they will face in this premiere in the continental event at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami: “At this level of competition and with the preparation times and information available, all teams know rivals enough to plan the matches. It is an area that has grown and it is difficult to take advantage. You neither win nor lose by knowing more or less about your opponent.” The eleven that “Loco” will choose would be: Sergio Rochet; Nahitan Nández, José María Giménez, Mathías Olivera, Lucas Olaza; Rodrigo Bentancur, Manuel Ugarte; Facundo Pellistri, Brian Rodríguez, Maximiliano Araújo; Darwin Núñez. Uruguay will play again on Thursday, June 27 against Bolivia and will close group C on Monday, July 1 against the United States.
