The most successful teams in the Copa America, insights from their warm-up matches before the competition.
Argentina, which clinched the title in the 2021 edition, and Uruguay, whose last triumph dates back to 2011, stand as the most decorated teams in Copa America history with 15 titles each. Brazil completes the podium with 9 trophies.
In a setting filled with anticipation and excitement, the Argentine and Uruguayan national teams are fully immersed in their preparations for the Copa America 2024. With friendly matches scheduled on American soil, the teams are looking to fine-tune their tactics and define their playing strategies under the guidance of their respective coaches, Lionel Scaloni and Marcelo Bielsa.
The Argentine squad, spearheaded by renowned figures like Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María, is set to face Ecuador and Guatemala in two pivotal friendlies leading up to the start of the Copa America. These encounters will serve as a platform for head coach Lionel Scaloni to finalize the 26-man squad that will represent the Albiceleste in the continental tournament.
On the other hand, Uruguay, led by Marcelo Bielsa, has already triumphed over Mexico 4-0 in a friendly that was a celestial spectacle. With players such as Darwin Núñez leading the attack, the Uruguayan team aims to solidify its playing style and craft the strategy that will propel them to glory in the tournament.
Regarding the list of summoned players, both Argentina and Uruguay boast individuals of remarkable quality and experience within their ranks. From goalkeepers like Emiliano Martínez and Sergio Rochet to forwards such as Lautaro Martínez and Facundo Torres, the teams comprise a diverse and talented squad that promises to put up a fierce fight in every match.
The warm-up matches leading to the Copa America not only provide an opportunity for teams to refine their gameplay but also for players to showcase their worth and vie for a spot in the final roster. With positions up for grabs and internal competition at its peak, the battle within each team guarantees an enthralling spectacle in every fixture.
Amidst a backdrop of excitement and uncertainty, the Argentine and Uruguayan national teams gear up to confront the challenges that await them in the Copa America 2024. With meticulously crafted strategies and a roster of talented players, both teams aspire to reach glory in the continental tournament and etch their names in the annals of South American football.
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Argentina's Summoned Players:
- Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa); Franco Armani (River Plate); Gerónimo Rulli (Ajax).
- Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest); Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid); Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille); Cristian Romero (Tottenham); Germán Pezzella (Real Betis); Lucas Martínez Quarta (Fiorentina); Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica); Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United); Marcos Acuña (Sevilla); Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon); Valentín Barco (Brighton).
- Midfielders: Guido Rodríguez (Real Betis); Leandro Paredes (Roma); Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool); Rodrigo De Paul (Atlético Madrid); Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen); Enzo Fernández (Chelsea); Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham).
- Forwards: Ángel Di María (Benfica); Valentín Carboni (Monza); Lionel Messi (Inter Miami); Ángel Correa (Atlético de Madrid); Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United); Nicolás Gonzalez (Fiorentina); Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan); Julián Álvarez (Manchester City).
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Uruguay's Summoned Players (Final list pending)
Marcelo Bielsa has adopted a unique preparation approach compared to other teams: on one hand, he took 16 players to the friendly against Mexico, while on the other hand, there are players who trained in Montevideo with an eye on the upcoming competition.
- Goalkeepers: Sergio Rochet (Internacional), Santiago Mele (Junior).
- Defenders: Sebastián Cáceres (América), José María Giménez (Atlético Madrid), Lucas Olaza (Krasnodar), Mathías Olivera (Napoli), Nahitan Nández (Cagliari).
- Midfielders: Manuel Ugarte (PSG), César Araújo (Orlando City), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham), Facundo
Pellistri (Granada), Maximiliano Araújo (Toluca), Brian Rodríguez (América), Facundo Torres (Orlando City).
- Forwards: Facundo Pellistri (Granada), Maximiliano Araújo (Toluca), Brian Rodríguez (América), Facundo Torres (Orlando City), Luciano Rodríguez (Liverpool), and Darwin Núñez (Liverpool).
Players who remained in Uruguay during the friendly against Mexico include Brian Ocampo (Cádiz CF), Emiliano Martínez (FC Midtjylland), Nicolás Marichal (Dinamo Moscow), Randall Rodríguez (Peñarol), Ronald Araujo (FC Barcelona), Cristian Olivera (Los Angeles FC), Miguel Merentiel (Boca Juniors), Nicolás De La Cruz (Flamengo), Matías Viña (Flamengo), Guillermo Varela (Flamengo), and Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Flamengo). Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) awaits after being crowned champion of the Champions League, while Luis Suárez is not part of the Uruguayan national team for the international friendly on June 5 against Mexico in Denver, United States. The 'Pistolero' was not considered by Marcelo Bielsa and is also unlikely to feature in the Copa America 2024.
While there is no official confirmation yet that Suárez will not be part of the Uruguayan national team's roster for the Copa America, there was an initial hint with a list published by the MLS. All teams in the American tournament revealed their called-up players for the national teams: Inter Miami did not include the Uruguayan forward.