When it comes to international tournaments, you can always count on Uruguay producing fireworks. Whether it’s because of their brilliant individual players doing something miraculous on the field or a few of their hot-headed ones making a fool of themselves, they are always entertaining to watch on the big stage. The Copa America offers the two-time World Cup champions yet another platform to get the world talking. What will they have in store for us this time?

By the Numbers

World Ranking: 9
Copa America Record: 32W-23D-19L
Best Copa America Finish: 1st in 1983, 1987, 1995, and 2011
Top Goal Scorer: Luis Suarez (45)

Recent Form:
3-1 W vs. Trinidad & Tobago – Friendly
1-0 W vs. Peru – WCQ
2-2 D at Brazil – WCQ
3-0 W vs. Chile – WCQ
2-1 L at Ecuador – WCQ

2016 Uruguay Home & Away Jerseys

Key Player

There’s only one player most people think about when Uruguay are about to play a match. Luis Suarez is arguably the best striker in the world. He’s also an extremely temperamental player who has a penchant for losing his cool in important international matches. At the 2014 World Cup he was suspended for biting another player. If Suarez can keep his cool and bring along the goal scoring form that won him the La Liga Golden Boot to the Copa America, then Uruguay will likely be among the favorites.

Group Stage Schedule

Uruguay have been drawn into a favorable group alongside Mexico, Jamaica, and Venezuela. It’ll take a massive collapse for them to not advance.

• Sunday, June 5 — Mexico vs. Uruguay, 8:00 p.m. ET — Fox Sports 1
• Thursday, June 9 — Uruguay vs. Venezuela, 7:30 p.m. ET — Fox Sports 1
• Monday, June 13 — Uruguay vs. Jamaica, 10:00 p.m. ET — Fox Sports 1

New York City Spot

The city’s Uruguayan epicenter will be La Gran Uruguaya, a bakery/bar tandem that serves up empanadas, steak sandwiches, and, of course, yerba maté. If you’re heading to this Jackson Heights establishment, don’t forget your blue and white.

Closing Thoughts

Uruguay’s hopes will rest on the shoulders of their strikeforce. If Suarez and Edinson Cavani are in form and scoring goals there’s little any opposition can do to stop them. Unfortunately that’s not always the case for duo who have struggled to gel together on the international level despite their individual talent. Uruguay will go as far as those two world-class strikers can carry them.