Our prediction for this Copa America match:
After sharing the spoils with Chile, Uruguay will be looking to record their first win at Copa America 2021 when they take on Bolivia at Arena Pantanal. La Celeste are on a five-game winless run in all competitions, but the game against La Verde could be the turning point for Oscar Tabarez’s troops. As always, a man to watch in the away team will be Atletico Madrid attacker Luis Suarez, who found the net in the draw with Chile.
Bolivia, on the other hand, kicked off their Copa America campaign with back-to-back defeats to Paraguay and Chile. Even though teenage attacker Jaume Cuellar returns from suspension, away win should be considered as Uruguay are determined to record their first win of the process. It has to be noted that five Bolivian players have been tested positive for coronavirus, including key attacker Marcelo Martins.
Highlighted Player (Luis Haquin):
Born in Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia), Luis Haquin is a 190-cm-tall defender who plays for Mexican side Puebla. Haquin started his senior career at Oriente Petrolero and after scoring three goals in 63 appearances in the Bolivian top flight, he moved to Puebla in 2018.
The Bolivia international made his debut for the Mexican team on February 16, 2019 in a 1-1 draw with Pachuca in Liga MX. Speaking of his international debut, Luis Haquin played his first ever match for the Bolivia national team on June 7, 2017 in a friendly against Nicaragua.
La Verde won the match 3-2, with Haquin coming as a substitute for Joan Candia in the dying minutes of the game. It has to be noted that the Puebla man has 4 caps for Bolivia U20 team. His main position is centre-back, but he is used as a defensive midfielder as well. His preferred foot is right.
Highlighted Team (Uruguay):
La Celeste are one of the most successful South American nations. Uruguay are frequently the champions of the continent having most recently won the tournament in 2011. They have won the Copa America a record 15 times including the first ever edition of the competition in 1916, while the team has also won FIFA World Cup in two occasions including the inaugural competition in 1930 when they defeated Argentina 4-2 in the final as hosts.
Their second World Cup title came in 1950 when Uruguay and Brazil played a legendary match which recorded a higher attendance than any other football match in the history of the game. Uruguay is the smallest country in the world to have won a World Cup by population, but La Celeste are proud of their football heritage which yielded some of the best footballers in the world over the course of history.
Most notable player of the current selection is Barcelona striker Luis Suarez, who is also the team’s top scorer with 45 goals to his name.