Uruguay vs Panama Prediction Copa América 2024

⚽ Football Copa América 2024 Match Preview

⏰ 24 June 2024 - 02:00 GMT +1

🏟 Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, FL)

Uruguay enters the 2024 Copa América looking to overcome their quarter-final penalty shootout losses in the last two tournaments. They face Panama in their opening match, arriving in strong form with only two defeats in their last 14 fixtures (W9, D3) and clean sheets in five of their last six games.

The head-to-head history heavily favors Uruguay, who have won all four previous meetings without conceding in the last three. Their last encounter two years ago ended in a 5-0 victory for Uruguay. This will be their first competitive meeting since the 1952 Panamerican Championship, which Uruguay won 6-1.

Panama, under Danish manager Thomas Christiansen, has seen a significant rise in FIFA rankings, climbing from 81st in June 2020 to 43rd ahead of this tournament. They reached the final of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, narrowly losing to Mexico.

In their Copa América debut in 2016, Panama won their opening match against Bolivia but failed to progress from the group stage. They face a challenging group again with Uruguay and USA as favorites to advance.

Where to watch?

📺 Uruguay vs Panama Live Stream on TV

📋 Players to watch: Darwin Núñez scored a hat-trick in Uruguay's last game and has scored in his last five international appearances. For Panama, winger Puma has contributed to goals in four of his last eight internationals.

⚡ Match Facts: Panama has kept a clean sheet in only one of their last six matches.

💡 Prediction: Given Uruguay's strong form, historical dominance over Panama, and the quality of players like Darwin Núñez, they are heavily favored to win this opening match. Panama's recent improvements and experience from the Gold Cup final could make them more competitive than in previous encounters, but Uruguay's defensive solidity and attacking prowess should prove too much. Expect Uruguay to control the game and create numerous chances, while Panama might struggle to break through Uruguay's defense.

Betting tips:

• Uruguay to win: 1.30
• Over 2.5 goals: 1.90
• Uruguay to keep a clean sheet: 1.70
• Darwin Núñez to score anytime: 1.80
• Uruguay -1.5 Asian Handicap: 2.00