Uruguay knocked out of the Copa America

Fede Valverde and Uruguay couldn’t progress past Colombia in the Copa America quarter finals, falling 4-2 on penalties after a chaotic and entertaining 90 minutes.

Valverde once again started in now familiar wide position alongside Bentancur and Arracesta. His first half was quiet, however, the match itself was anything but. A combination of bad finishing and bad defending offered a host of chances for both sides in the first 45, the best being a cut back to Edison Cavani in the box whom, after passing the keeper, fired the ball into the side netting.

Valverde had three big involvements in the match in the first 10 minutes of the second half. He created two half chances for Uruguay, one a cross that tricked Ospina and the other a cut back that couldn’t find another blue shirt after he’d broken free in the Colombia box. After bringing down Diaz around the 51st minute, Valverde became alot quieter as Colombia took control of the game.

Neither side could find a goal before the end of the match and the game went straight to penalties. Valverde never got a chance to take one, Giminez and Matías Viña having their efforts saved before the Real midfielder potentially had a chance. Though not known for his penalty skills, that he never took one certianly speaks to the sort of tournament he has had with most of the main action passing Valverde. Saying that, it would be unfair to pretend Uruguay had alot of action going on for them, trundling out of their group in rather unconvincing fashion and never really looking like contenders for the trophy.

Valverde doesn’t have any Olympic worries to concern himself with and now that the Copa America is over, he will likely return to Madrid to rest and prepare for the new season.