Uruguay are ready, Paraguay at the Estadio Centenario on Saturday for the seventh matchday of their South American World Cup qualification.

The hosts are currently second in the table with 13 points, while the visitors are in seventh place, level with eighth-placed Chile on five points.

Game Preview

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After the great disappointment of being eliminated in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, something they had not done since 2002, Uruguay sacked coach Diego Alonso and finally discontinued Marcelo Bielsa in May 2023.

Bielsa has had a fantastic impact on the Uruguay national team, losing five of his 19 games as manager across all competitions and leading the team to a third-place finish at the 2024 Copa América.

Uruguay comfortably won all three of their group stage matches and notably beat Brazil on penalties in the quarter-finals. But despite having 62% possession in the semi-finals, the Uruguayans were unable to capitalise on this and lost 1-0 to Colombia.

In the match for third place, they narrowly defeated Canada on penalties. Luis Suarez scored the equalizer in the 92nd minute and forced a penalty shootout, which Uruguay won 4-2.

Heading into matchdays seven and eight of the South American FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Bielsa’s side sit in a solid second place with 13 points from six games and will look to consolidate their position with two positive results this international break.

Their opponents Paraguay will probably not be too confident going into Saturday’s match after a terrible Copa America season and their first group stage exit since 2016.

They lost 1-2 to Colombia, 1-4 to Brazil and 1-2 to Costa Rica, finishing last in the group without any points. Daniel Oscar Garnero to be fired.

Gustavo Alfaro has taken charge of the team and will lead Paraguay into his first game as coach when the team faces Uruguay on Saturday. The Argentine will be hoping to lead Paraguay to their first win in the match since 2007.

Uruguay World Cup Qualifiers – South American Form:

Uruguay Form (All Competitions):

Paraguay World Cup Qualifiers – South American Form:

Paraguay Form (All Competitions):

Team News

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Uruguay’s all-time leading goalscorer, Suarez, recently announced his retirement from international football. The match against Paraguay will likely be his last for his country and he will likely start.

Darwin Nunez, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ronald Araujo, Jose Maria Gimenez And Mathias Olivera have been suspended for the next five international matches due to clashes with fans in the semi-final of the Copa America against Colombia.

Matias Vina, Georgian de Arrascaeta, Federico Vinas And Nicolas de la Cruz are all not in the squad due to injury problems.

As for Paraguay, Antonio Sanabria is the only player to score in the team’s six World Cup qualifiers so far and is expected to lead the way in this match as well.

Brighton & Hove Albion Julio Enciso will probably also start as part of an attacking midfield with three players, alongside Miguel Almiron And Ramon Sosa.

Possible starting eleven for Uruguay:
Rochet; Nandez, Caceres, Bueno, Saracchi; Valverde, Ugarte; Pellistri, Torres, Araujo; Suarez

Possible starting eleven for Paraguay:
Morinigo; Velazquez, Balbuena, Alderete, Espinoza; Villasanti, Bobadilla; Almiron, Enciso, Sosa; Sanabria

We think: Uruguay 3-0 Paraguay

The hosts will be looking to put in a strong performance to give Suarez the perfect send-off in his final game for the country and they should comfortably beat a weak Paraguayan side.

Click here to see a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match.

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