Uruguay have long been the great overachievers of international soccer. Indeed, this nation of just three million people has established itself at the top of the game and is gearing up for another landmark summer as Marcelo Bielsa leads the national team at the 2024 Copa America. Uruguay are widely seen as one of the frontrunners.
This pre-tournament prediction was backed up by Uruguay’s 3-1 victory over Panama in their opening fixture. While the scoreline was made more emphatic by a flurry of late goals, Uruguay were clearly the stronger side. Darwin Nunez impressed in particular, finding the back of the net with an eye-catching volley.
La Celeste followed this up with a 5-0 demolition of Bolivia, where five different players notched a goal, including Nunez.
Nunez has been the perfect fit for Bielsa’s style of play. Bielsa’s approach is all about direct attacking play and high energy – exactly what the Liverpool centre forward needs to play his best soccer. Nunez already has one goal to his name at the 2024 Copa America and could be one of the stars of the tournament.
While Luis Suarez was called up for the 2024 Copa America, Uruguay are in the midst of a generational transition. The past era was defined by the likes of Suarez and Edinson Cavani. Now, though, they are either well into the twilight of their career – in Suarez’s case – or like Cavani, have retired from international duty. Uruguay needs a new crop.
That new crop is starting to emerge. Uruguay have Real Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde, Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo, Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte and of course Nunez to build around in the coming years. It is Nunez, however, who best embodies Bielsa’s Uruguay and their Copa America campaign this summer.
At club level, Nunez is maligned for his inconsistency in front of goal. The 25-year-old’s talent is clear, but he scored just 11 goals for Liverpool in the Premier League last season. Supporters of the Anfield club look at Nunez and compare him to Manchester City’s Erling Haaland who scored 27 last season and 36 the season before that.
It’s certainly true that Nunez could take his career to the next level by sharpening his finishing in and around the penalty box, but Bielsa isn’t so concerned by the numbers put up by his centre forward. Instead, the former Leeds United manager looks at how Nunez is so reliable at getting into good positions.
“Darwin is a player who does not need much support,” said Bielsa. “The only thing that concerns me is whether he gets in positions – which he does extraordinarily – to score, impact games, finish the moves, choose where to place the shot. In the last two games for Uruguay he scored four goals [but] for me that has no importance. If he scores, he scores; if he misses, he misses. But does he know how to impact a game? He knows how to impact a game.”
The opportunity is there for Nunez to lead Uruguay to Copa America glory this summer. Argentina have started strongly with two wins from two games, but Brazil struggled to make much of an impact in their goalless draw against Costa Rica. The USA will provide a test in the group stage, but Uruguay will be the favourites to win that match.
As a chaos merchant, there aren’t many better in world soccer than Nunez, and Bielsa has embraced this element of the 25-year-old’s game. Some managers might want the Liverpool forward to be more consistent and coachable, but with Nunez leading the line Uruguay are quite simply a better team. He makes things happen and gets on the end of chances, whether he finishes them or not.
Arne Slot will surely watch Uruguay at the 2024 Copa America as the new Liverpool manager gets to grips with the squad he inherited from Jurgen Klopp. Some reports have suggested Slot would allow Nunez to leave Anfield after a frustrating 2023/24 campaign for the centre forward. Money could be reinvested in other areas.
However, Nunez is a force of nature when he’s at his best and that could come to the fore for Uruguay as they chase their first Copa America title since 2011. Bielsa is showing how to best utilise the 25-year-old. This summer could be a pivotal moment in Nunez’s career, for club and country.
