NEWS: Uruguay coach Oscar Washington Tabarez has revealed he is close to knowing his ideal starting XI for the Copa America.
With the tournament less than four weeks away, Tabarez will select a near-full-strength team to face Australia in Sydney tomorrow (Saturday).
Villarreal striker Diego Forlan and Inter Milan’s Alvaro Recoba (pictured) will make up two thirds of a three-man attack against the Socceroos and Tabarez says at least eight of tomorrow’s starters are in his preferred line-up for Venezuela.
“We are experimenting a little bit,” Tabarez told AAP. “There are positions (for the Copa America) still available, and this will be an incentive for the players to earn their positions.”
The coach’s current squad features foreign-based players only because the season in Uruguay is in its final stages. About six home-based players are expected to travel to Venezuela.
Uruguay are taking on an Australia side which is missing many of its top players – such as Tim Cahill, Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer – but playmaker Recoba believes it will still be a good test for his team.
The 31-year-old told The Australian: “We have our whole squad here and for us that is important because it is our last chance to be together before the Copa America.
“Of course, it would be a better spectacle if both teams had their best players but I am sure Australia will still put on a good show.”
