Uruguay vs Colombia. Prediction and Preview. Probable Lineups, Team News, Stats, and more

Uruguay will face Colombia in the CONMEBOL Copa America semifinal match at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, USA. The fixture will take place on Thursday, July 11, beginning at 05:30 IST.

Parimatch News will tell you everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming match.

Don`t miss out 👉: UEFA Euro 2024 Quarter-Final Roundup: France and England go through on penalties alongside Spain and Netherlands

Uruguay News & Current Form: 

The Uruguay national team has not thrilled their fans with good results in recent years. However, after the fiasco at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Sky Blues decided to make significant changes. Marcelo Bielsa was appointed as the new head coach, bringing his extensive experience from managing Argentina, Chile, and various European clubs. Bielsa has proven to be an excellent fit for the team, offering the right blend of experience and bold, risky decisions that the squad needed to progress. In the qualifiers for the 2026 Mundial, Uruguay have already amassed 13 points from six matches, securing second place in the standings behind the first team of the world.

In the Copa America, the Charrúa have been very impressive, emerging as one of the tournament’s favourites. In the first round, they comfortably defeated Panama with a score of 3:1, with the only goal conceded in extra time. This was followed by a 5:0 thrashing of Bolivia. In the third round, they faced the USA, who were fighting hard for the second spot in the group. Uruguay had a confident match and deservedly won with a minimal score of 1:0, despite already securing the top position in Group C with a goal difference of 9:1. This made them the highest-scoring team in the tournament at that stage, with the nearest competitors, Venezuela, Panama, and Colombia, each scoring six times. Under Bielsa, the team has been prolific, averaging 2.67 goals per game.

In the first knockout round, La Celeste played against Brazil, who are currently not in their best form. Despite the opponent’s dominance, Uruguay had more dangerous attacks. As often happens in matches between strong South American teams, no goals were scored. Federico Valverde and Co. played the last 15 minutes with ten men after Nahitan Nández was sent off for a dangerous move on Rodrygo. Despite this, they managed to surpass the Pentacampeones in number of shots on target (11 to 7) and kept a clean sheet. The match outcome was decided by a penalty shootout, which the Yellow and Greens executed poorly, resulting in a 1:0 victory for Uruguay. Notably, Brazil’s attacking potential was diminished by the absence of Vinícius Júnior due to yellow card accumulation.

Bielsa’s collective goalkeeper, Sergio Rochet, was showing outstanding results in that match, keeping a clean sheet for 90 minutes and saving the penalty by Éder Militão in the shootout.

“It was a tense match against a very strong opponent,” Rochet commented.

“In the last minutes, we had to endure playing with ten men. But we showed character, despite having a young team. We took the match to a penalty shootout and won, and I managed to save one shot. We are thrilled and want more.”

Another revelation for Uruguay has been left winger Maximiliano Araujo, the team’s top scorer with three goal involvements (2 goals, 1 assist). Although he spent most of the season as a left-back for Mexican side Deportivo Toluca FC, he has consistently played as an attacking winger for the national team. Spanish media reports suggest FC Barcelona are interested in him, especially if their deal for Nico Williams falls through.

Ex-gaffer of Leeds United FC Marcelo Bielsa made the Uruguayan team extremely prolific

By scoring against Bolivia, Darwin Núñez equalled a national team record set a century ago. He became the first player since the legendary Héctor Scarone to score in seven consecutive matches for Uruguay. However, this streak was recently broken as he failed to score in the last two matches of the tournament.

The Sky Blues have their share of setbacks: alongside the red-carded Nández, who will miss the match against Colombia, Ronald Araújo is also sidelined. He was substituted due to a thigh injury in the quarter-final after just 33 minutes.

Colombia News & Current Form: 

The Colombian national team is another side that struggled to find their form, even missing out on the last World championship. However, this major setback became the catalyst for their improved results. Los Cafeteros have not lost a match since early February of 2022, remaining unbeaten for over two years. During this period, under the guidance of coach Néstor Lorenzo, they have played 27 matches, drawing six times and winning 21. The team has already equalled their record set between 1992 and 1994, achieving significantly more victories (21 compared to 13). They now have the opportunity to set a new record.

James Rodríguez has provided 5 assists in the Copa America campaign so far

During this period, the Yellow and Blues have made a strong start in the qualifiers for the 2026 WC, currently occupying third place in the standings. Additionally, in the Copa America, the Colombian team found themselves in a relatively manageable group, where they, along with Brazil, were considered clear favourites to advance to the knockout stage. Lorenzo’s team secured their spot in the knockout rounds within two matches, comfortably defeating Paraguay (2:1) and Costa Rica (3:0). In their final group match, they held Danilo and Co. to a 1:1 draw. This tense game saw Brazil take the lead with a stunning free-kick from Raphinha, but Los Cafeteros equalised thanks to a strike from Crystal Palace FC centre-back Daniel Muñoz late in the first half.

In the quarter-finals, Colombia thrashed Panama 5:0, with first-half goals from Jhon Córdoba, James Rodríguez, and Luis Díaz, followed by second-half strikes from Ricardo Ríos and Miguel Borja. This comprehensive victory was unsurprising, as the favourites simply did their job. In the previous Copa America campaign, they secured third place, and this time they have the potential to match or even surpass that achievement. Key factors in their success include aggressive pressing and a constant focus on the opponent’s goal. They play bold, entertaining football, underlining their status as one of the main contenders for the 2024 title.

Colombian collective also has an unexpected leader: 32-year-old Rodríguez is once again driving the team forward, contributing six goal involvements (1 goal, 5 assists). The former Real Madrid CF player has matched the assist record of Lionel Messi in the competition.

Federico Valverde of the Colombian player:

“I think James is in a very good moment. It’s normal, in the end, we know what James is and what he gives. So, we are going to rest and get ready. I think Colombia are one of the best teams in the Copa America, they have a very good game. They are really good.”

Thanks to Rodríguez, his team scored ten goals in the tournament, including five unanswered goals against Panama in the quarter-finals. Another crucial player for the team is forward Jhon Córdoba, who has two goals and one assist. Additionally, Crystal Palace midfielder Jefferson Lerma returns from suspension, allowing Díaz and Córdoba to focus entirely on the attack.

Uruguay form guide: D-W-W-W-W-W

Colombia form guide: W-W-W-W-D-W

Uruguay vs Colombia Head-To-Head Record:

• July 3, 2021: Uruguay 0 – 0 Colombia (Copa America);
• October 7, 2021: Uruguay 0 – 0 Colombia (FIFA World Cup);
• October 12, 2023: Colombia 2 – 2 Uruguay (FIFA World Cup).

Uruguay vs Colombia Predicted XI:

Uruguay’s possible starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Rochet; Varela, Gimenez, Olivera, Vina; Valverde, Ugarte; Pellistri, De la Cruz, Araujo; Nunez.

Colombia’s possible starting lineup (4-3-3): Vargas; Munoz, Sanchez, Cuesta, Mojica; Rios, Lerma; J. Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz; Cordoba.

Statistical preview of the match Uruguay vs Colombia:

• Uruguay’s national team holds 14th place in the FIFA ranking of national squads, while the Colombian collective is ranked 12th.
• Uruguay’s First XI average age is 26.7 years, and Colombia’s First XI average age is 29.5 years.
• César Ramos Palazuelos has been appointed as the centre referee. The match official has already served 4 games this season, showing an average of 2.25 yellow cards and also whistles 13.5 fouls per game. 
• Colombia have not lost in their last 27 consecutive matches. 
• Uruguay have scored at least two goals against Colombia in four of the last six head-to-head meetings. 
• Colombia scored at least two goals in six of their last seven matches.
• 4 of the last 5 face-to-face meetings between Colombia and Uruguay ended in a draw after 90 minutes played. 
• Top-3 scorers of the Uruguayan national team in 2024 are: Darwin Nunez with 5 goals to his name, Maximiliano Araujo and Facundo Pellistri with 2 netted goals each.
• Daniel Munoz, Luis Diaz and Jhon Cordoba each are responsible for two goals scored for their national team.

What has been said before the match:

Marcelo Bielsa about the peculiarity of the opponent’s squad and football as a way of identification:

“Colombia have many forwards, which is not common today. There is more than one option for each level without much difference. Colombian football has transformed. They have always been creative, dominant, naturally competitive and have added the essentials to survive in today’s football.”

“No matter how many people watch football, if you don’t ensure that what people watch is something pleasant, it will only benefit the business. Because the business only cares about how many people watch it.

“But in a few years, the number of players who deserve to be watched will be less, and the game produced will be less enjoyable, this current artificial increase of spectators will end. Football is not five minutes of highlights. Football is much more than that. It is a cultural expression, it is a way of identification.”

Mentor of Los Cafeteros Nestor Lorenzo about taking it game by game:

“To have a good Copa America is to win it. It is not an abstract concept. The objective is to win every game we play, and the boys know that. We take it game by game. The goal is to win the next game. The most important game is the next one.”

“We are confirming the importance of coming to the national team and wearing the shirt. The players feel a great pride in being there, and that is typical of players.”

“In this team, they kill themselves for their teammates. We worked hard on that from the beginning. It’s the way I feel about football from a technical point of view.”

Uruguay vs Colombia Prediction:

Semifinals in this competition are often characterised by hyper-alertness about every wrong move and every inaccurate pass. Both teams have a solid defensive line and game planning to choose a cautious approach. The match against Brazil showed that the Charrúas are ready to stifle a star-studded offence even without key defender Ronald Araújo, who was injured in the first half. And while Uruguay has allowed just one goal in this tournament, Colombia also looks very convincing in this respect – only two goals conceded.

With equal opportunities in attack, the defence will play a key role in this clash. This will be a case when both sides find it difficult to get into the box. The intense contest in the midfield will shape the flow of the game and test the tactical acumen of both teams striving to create and capitalize on a few half chances. In two out of the last three head-to-head encounters between Uruguay and Colombia, the matches concluded in a 0-0 draw. As both teams now stand on the verge of the final, it is anticipated that this pattern will persist, given the unlikelihood of either side engaging in unnecessary risks. Furthermore, recent Copa America play-off fixtures have been characterized by a high degree of caution, with three of the four quarter-final matches being resolved through penalty shoot-outs.

Both teams deserve to play in the final, but Los Cafeteros will be closer to making it to the final round of the Copa America. Colombia has a 27-match record-breaking unbeaten streak, the team has been impressing with performance and level of football. Marcelo Bielsa has a lot of experience in overcoming challenging situations, but even the Argentine’s expertise may need to be more to deal with Nestor Lorenzo’s versatile and ferocious attack. A wait-and-see approach, such as the one used against Brazil, will lead to a disaster for Uruguay this time. The White and Blues are now lacking a leader of defence, while unstoppable Luiz Diaz and Co. might do a better job of opening up space and finding chances than Charrois. 

Parimatch News staff prediction:

We say: Colombia will not lose and the match total will be less than 2.5 – Yes.

Don`t miss out 👉: Top 5 Oldest Players to play a UEFA Euro fixture