In its own Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay plays its goodbye game against Panama in the night from Friday to Saturday, before the Copa America starts next week. The homeland hopes for a good dress rehearsal, but the visitors intend to resist with all their might.
Uruguay:
Uruguay is one of the outsiders for winning the Copa America this summer, which will start in Brazil next week. “The big advantage is that we know each other through and through,” said midfielder Matias Vecino. “We know what we can do to each other.” There is indeed no word of that. Players like Fernando Muslera, Diego Godin, Edinson Cavani and of course star player Luis Suarez bring a lot of experience and know the tricks of the trade. Also national coach Oscar Tabarez, who has been at the helm of La Celeste since 2006, is a beacon of peace.
Uruguay wants to travel to neighboring Brazil with a good feeling and naturally wants to win its goodbye match in its own Estadio Centenario against Panama. It is expected that Tabarez will start with his intended basic eleven for the Copa America, after which he will rotate frequently after the tea. Suarez, however, will most likely not come into action, even though he fully trained after an operation. “We must be careful with him,” said Tabarez. “Our goal is to get him in top shape for the first group match of the Copa America against Ecuador.
Panama:
This friendly international match also means the final test for Panama, before the real work begins in a week and a half. On June 18, Los Canaleros will face Minnesota in their first Gold Cup group match against Trinidad & Tobago. After the scoreless draw in the unofficial match against the Spanish Basque Country and the 3-0 defeat against Colombia, the Central Americans hope to be able to conclude their preparation with a good feeling through a positive result in and against Uruguay.
National coach Julio Dely Valdes has already completed his 23-man selection for the Gold Cup. Dely Valdes mainly opts for experience, because his selection is full of people in their thirties and thirties. Armando Cooper (Maccabi Petah Tikva) and Roman Torres (Seattle Sounders) are the great leaders of the country, but the vast majority of players are still active in their own country or in other small South American competitions. It will be quite a job for visitors to curb Uruguay in-house.
PREDICTION: Over 2,5 goals @ 1,53
