Uruguay’s Darwin Nunez, despite failing to extend his record goalscoring streak to eight games, helped his country secure a perfect record of three wins in the Copa America tournament. After scoring in the 5-0 victory over Bolivia, Nunez equaled Hector Scalone’s historic record for the longest scoring streak in Uruguay’s history.
Under the guidance of new manager Marcelo Bielsa, the 25-year-old striker showcased his immense talent, leaving Liverpool fans hopeful that he can replicate his form at Anfield. Although he couldn’t surpass Scalone’s record, Nunez had a quieter night against the United States in Copa America. Starting and playing for 89 minutes, his only notable opportunity came seven minutes before halftime when he missed a chance with his left foot.
According to FotMob, this missed opportunity was considered a significant one for Nunez, although the difficulty of the shot was evident, as confirmed by its expected goals (xG) value of just 0.10. Throughout the match, Nunez had limited involvement, touching the ball only 22 times and completing six of his 11 attempted passes. He also struggled in duels, winning only three out of 12.
Uruguay managed to secure victory with a goal from Napoli left-back Mathias Olivera, who capitalized on the rebound after Matt Turner saved Ronald Araujo’s initial header from a corner. This win guaranteed Uruguay’s place in the quarter-finals of Copa America, where they will face either Brazil or Colombia.
Meanwhile, in a different tournament development, Fabian Otte, Liverpool’s incoming goalkeeper coach, saw his time with the USA squad come to an end as they were eliminated from Copa America after securing only three points from their group stage matches. Otte will now join Liverpool’s coaching staff at the AXA Training Centre for pre-season preparations. Otte had previously served as the goalkeeper coach for the US national team.
Liverpool’s other senior goalkeeper coach, Claudio Taffarel, is also participating in Copa America as part of the Brazil staff. Unlike Otte, Taffarel’s stay in the tournament has been extended into the quarter-finals. Additionally, Liverpool’s South American representatives, Alisson with Brazil and Alexis Mac Allister with Argentina, have secured their places in the knockout stages of the tournament.
Luis Diaz, Liverpool’s Colombian representative, has not yet mathematically guaranteed a spot in the quarter-finals. However, even if Colombia were to lose to Brazil while Costa Rica defeats Paraguay on Tuesday night, they are expected to progress to the next round. With Liverpool’s goalkeeping coaches and South American players making an impact in Copa America, it bodes well for the team’s preparations for the upcoming season.