Copa América: Inter Miami’s Luis Suárez makes Uruguay squad
Inter Miami striker Luis Suárez will join the Uruguay national team for the 2024 Copa América, headlining manager Marcelo Bielsa’s 26-man roster alongside Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez and Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde.
Despite concerns that Suárez would miss the tournament in the United States due to ongoing knee issues, his recent form with Miami earned him a slot in the final roster announced Saturday.
The 37-year-old has managed 12 goals and five assists in 16 games for Inter Miami across all competitions, propelling the MLS team to first place on the Eastern Conference table.
The former Barcelona and Liverpool star has played an integral role in Uruguay’s success, helping his country win the Copa America in 2011 and standing as the team’s all-time leading scorer with 68 goals in 138 international caps. He’ll now look to extend that record this summer when facing Panama, hosts the United States and Bolívia in the group stage of the Copa América.
Paris Saint-Germain player Manuel Ugarte and Tottenham Hotspur’s Rodrigo Bentancur also form part of the roster, while noted veterans Edinson Cavani and Matías Vecino are absent after recently retiring from International duty.
Suárez’s departure to join his national team will hit Inter Miami hard, as the South Florida team looks set to lose four key players for the upcoming competitions. Suarez, Lionel Messi, Matías Rojas and David Ruiz will all miss the upcoming match against the Philadelphia Union on June 15, and may be absent through the Copa América final on July 14.v
Pedri’s first Spain goals lead 5-1 rout of Northern Irelan
Spain
5
FT
1
Northern Ireland
Spain strolled to a 5-1 win over Northern Ireland in Palma de Mallorca on Saturday as midfielder Pedri scored twice in their final warm-up match before the European Championship starting in Germany next week.
The visitors took a shock lead two minutes into the game when defender Daniel Ballard headed home a long free kick from Caolan Boyd-Munce.
Spain dominated the match, however, and levelled through a Pedri strike from distance in the 12th minute, his first international goal,before Álvaro Morata, Fabián Ruiz and Pedri again put the hosts 4-1 up at the break.
Mikel Oyarzabal sealed the win for the three-times European champions in the 60th minute, bundling in Lamine Yamal’s pass.
“Above all, I’m very happy for the match, for the team’s reaction. [But also] very happy to make my scoring debut, I was looking forward to scoring here,” said Pedri.
“I’ve worked hard during the season, I’ve had several mishaps but I’ve worked hard to get to the end of it.
“With the goal it has been seen that the injury is behind me. Physically, I feel very well, looking forward to the Euros and happy to be here.”
The 21-year-old Barcelona player struggled with injury problems last season.
Manager Luis de la Fuente made nine changes from Wednesday’s 5-0 victory over Andorra, with Pedri and striker Morata the only players retained in the starting lineup.
Morata, who nodded home to give Spain the lead in the 18th minute with his 35th international goal, drew level with David Silva as Spain’s fourth highest scorer.
Spain scored four goals in the first half for the first time since 2023, when they also netted four against Georgia in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
The hosts were more relaxed after the break but still threatened Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s goal as Joselu, Dani Carvajal, Aymeric Laporte and Mikel Merino got game time ahead of the tournament.
Spain start their Euro 2024 campaign next Saturday against Croatia before facing Italy and Albania in Group B.
