Uruguay required a late equalizer and penalties to overcome Canada in the Copa America third-place playoff on Saturday, with coach Marcelo Bielsa acknowledging that the South American team had underperformed. Canada, making several lineup changes for the match, appeared more energetic and posed numerous challenges to Uruguay. Ranked 14th globally, Uruguay narrowly avoided a surprising loss to the 48th-ranked Copa America newcomers, thanks to Luis Suarez's stoppage-time goal that led to a penalty shootout, which Uruguay won 4-3.
"It was not a stellar performance. At best, the draw was hardly deserved. I believe the opposing coach's choice to emphasize physical fitness over regular starters proved more effective," Bielsa shared with the press. "I opted for the usual starters despite their fatigue. There were highs and lows. Both teams created equal chances, but honestly, we didn't play well." Regarding the third-place finish, Bielsa believes Uruguay is among the top three teams of the tournament, despite the players' fatigue after long seasons.
Canada's coach, Jesse Marsch, who took the reins in May, expressed pride in the team's rapid progress, stating: "The players are disheartened by how we let the match slip away." However, he remained upbeat about the team's performance. "We've only been together for a bit over six weeks. We introduced new players, faced one of the world's best teams, and controlled the match. We're still a young team, developing experience in handling high-pressure situations, unlike Uruguay's seasoned lineup."
Marsch also commended Canada's less experienced players for swiftly adapting to his tactical approach despite limited match practice. "The clarity with which our playing style was executed by the newcomers was impressive," Marsch noted. "It's challenging to establish a tactical framework in such a short time against top-tier opponents and then witness them perform at a high level. It's a very positive sign." He concluded by praising the team's potential and camaraderie.
