Uruguay to test depth against Mexico, US

Mexico City: Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa said Friday that the absences of Darwin Nunez and Federico Valverde will not greatly impact his team in friendlies against Mexico and the United States.

Al-Hilal striker Nunez was ruled out of the matches due to a knee injury, while Real Madrid midfielder Valverde is sidelined with a hamstring strain, reports Xinhua.

“It would have been nice to have both of them with us, but the fact they are not here will not be an obstacle for us,” Bielsa told reporters, adding that Uruguay’s depth of talent had been one of its strengths since he took charge of the Celeste in May 2023.

“We have played 18 World Cup qualifiers since I arrived and seven Copa America games, so the mutual understanding within our team is already solid,” the 70-year-old Argentine said.

Uruguay will meet Mexico in Torreon on Saturday and the United States in Tampa on Tuesday. The games will provide one of the last opportunities for Bielsa to assess his squad before next year’s World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Agencies

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