Chile-Uruguay: two champions for the first place in Group C

Chile, already classified, and Uruguay will play on Monday 24 June in Rio de Janeiro, the first place in Group C of CONMEBOL Copa América Brazil 2019, in a duel that promises power and emotion, at the height of the historic rivalry that unites the last two champions of the tournament.

Defending the title they won in 2015 and 2016, La Roja reach the decisive match as leaders with six points and are determined to continue their dream of becoming champions for the third consecutive time, as Argentina did in the 1940s. A tie is enough to secure first place.

Rueda, a coach with extensive experience in national teams (before Chile he coached Ecuador, Honduras and Colombia), can count on a starting team very similar to their first two matches, in the game against Uruguay, in the scheduled game at 20:00 local time, at the Maracana.

The forward Alexis Sanchez and the midfielder Arturo Vidal ended the match against Ecuador with discomfort. The «Niño Maravilla» suffered a sprain. «Let’s hope that the injury, already in the post-match, is not great and we can have them against Uruguay», Rueda said after the match.

– Uruguay with two losses –

The Chileans will face the national team that has won the most CONMEBOL Copa América (15), a heavyweight with a devastating couple in the lead, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.

Seconds with four points after beating Ecuador (4-0) and a tie with Japan (2-2), the ‘master’ Oscar Tabarez, who has been in charge for 13 years, has practically guaranteed a ticket to the quarterfinals, but they need the three points to be top of the group.

However, the Charrúas come into the game without two players, Diego Laxalt from AC Milan and Inter Milan midfielder Matís Vecino, were injured in the match against Japan and Ecuador respectively. Tabarez could again use the player from the Peñarol, Giovanni Gonzalez to replace Laxalt.

«We know that Chile have a very well-prepared team, which has been known for a long time» Cavani said from the training hotel in Rio de Janeiro.

Possible line-ups:

Uruguay: Fernando Muslera – Martín Cáceres, José Giménez, Diego Godín, Giovanni González – Giorgian De Arrascaeta, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Torreira, Nicolás Lodeiro – Luis Suárez, Edinson Cavani.
Coach: Oscar Tabárez.

Chile: Gabriel Arias – Mauricio Isla, Gary Medel, Guillermo Maripán, Jean Beausejour – Erick Pulgar, Charles Aránguiz, Arturo Vidal – José Fuenzalida, Eduardo Vargas, Alexis Sánchez.
Coach: Reinaldo Rueda.

Referee: Raphael Claus (BRA)